IGUAZU NATIONAL PARK YVYRÁ RETÁ VISITOR CENTER
Selfie, come on.
Let's do another one.
The three o'clock tomorrow had two cancellations.
Okay.
Remember when I asked about that raise?
Ask again and you're fired. Okay?
Okay. See you tomorrow.
Hello, Boris.
Fuckin' idiot. Where'd you learn to drive, fuckhead?!
Asshole!
THE GIANT FALLS
Happy birthday, babe.
Thanks.
-I love you. -You too.
Grief is my situation
I'm like a wailing, a Bolivian wailing That started one day
And won't end And doesn't hurt anyone
Oh!
Oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, look! They're singing!
Oh!
And here I am
Drunk and insane
And my stupid heart
-Will always shine -Will always shine
-And I will love you… -My angel, my angel.
I'll love you forever
Baby, don't brush your hair in bed…
Oh! I forgot it's your birthday. Come here!
-Oh, happy birthday! -Thanks, Leti. You look beautiful.
Yeah, but look at you.
You're one to talk!
Hi.
Forever
-And my stupid heart… -They're wild.
-I'm gonna go see the girls. -Go ahead.
-We'll talk later. -Okay.
Will always shine
And I will love you
I'll love you forever
Baby, don't brush your hair in bed
The travelers are going to be late
Pah!
Whoo!
Woo-hoo!
Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo!
Come here!
Mwah!
What, don't tell me you're too old for your mother to hug and kiss you?
-Okay. -What do you mean, "okay"?
-Hello, Boris. -Hi.
Meet my brand-new friend, Crystal.
-How's it going? -Good.
Back off. His girlfriend's here with him, and it's her birthday.
Are you gonna sing?
Obviously. Are you gonna stay and listen to your mom?
Or are you gonna run away like a rat?
I'll run away like a rat. Yeah.
Oh, how nice, my love.
Your phone rang, babe.
-Everyone. Anyone want cake? -No, I'm good.
-No? -No. No, thanks.
UNKNOWN NUMBER MISSED CALL
Volare
Show 'em how it's done, baby!
Oh, oh, oh
Cantare…
UNKNOWN NUMBER CALL ENDED
Volare
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Cantare
Oh, oh, oh…
IT'S JULIAN. I NEED TO SEE YOU.
Felice di stare quaggiù
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassù
Whoo! Amazing.
Are you okay?
Just tired. I drank a lot.
Yeah, well, thanks for today.
-You positive? You're all right? -Mm-hm.
-Okay, good night. I'm going to bed. -Go on.
IT'S JULIAN. I NEED TO SEE YOU.
I thought you guys were coming over tomorrow.
We were, but I have things to do tomorrow.
Enough, Friday, it's your brother, damn it!
Hi, Leti.
Hello, Friday!
-Bitch never shuts up. -Yup.
-Oh, collagen. -No!
No. It would help me so much. No, no, no, no!
'Cause Kari uses it. She's 26.
This is for Bebe. He's got bad joints and he needs it.
-Do his joints even work anymore? -Just leave it there!
-Want some tea? -For God's sake, I don't want anything!
I have a nice mint tea. Where are you going?
-To the bathroom. -I don't know if that thing is working.
-The thing that broke? -I'm taking a piss, not a shower.
Okay, then.
Are you dizzy?
No.
'Cause you were leaning up against the door.
Did your blood pressure drop?
-Is there a guy in there? -Could be.
If there was, why would it matter to you?
It's just, we both know we've had some complications
with your former… "conquests."
-Yeah? -Oh, "we have," huh?
-Uh-huh. -Well, now.
Who knew I was in an incestuous throuple with my own son?
Don't you see? You'll fall in love with anyone.
And these guys always screw you over.
Milo isn't like that. Okay?
-He's an upstanding business owner. -Oh.
It's a small business… but he does well.
-And what kind of business… exactly? -He's an artisan.
Oh!
But with quartz.
He supplies a bunch of retailers.
And keep it down, because Milo's tired.
After we got home, he stayed up late working, poor thing.
I can imagine. But those toys in the bathroom tell a different story.
When did you turn into such a snoop, huh, Sherlock?
Is that how I raised you?
-How long have you known this guy? -A long time.
-Two months. -Ah.
All right, enough with the interrogation, okay?
My life, your life.
Good morning, Bebe.
Hey, kids. How's it going?
Great.
-Good. -Did the hens eat?
-No, they're waiting for you. -Okay. Fraga said he called you.
-Did you get the message? -Oh, yeah.
The thing is, I had a little problem with my phone.
I dropped it in the toilet.
Now the damn thing won't dry out. But I'll call him later. It's fine.
It's just an extra order. I'll talk to him about it.
Don't worry, I got it.
-I'm gonna go and check on the chicks. -Okay.
Something wrong?
You all right?
Yes.
You all right?
-My old man came by. -You're fucking kidding.
This is a big deal.
-Did you guys talk? -No.
-Why not? -I don't wanna.
What the hell is he doing here?
That right there is an extremely important question.
And the only one with the answer is your old man.
Don't bust my balls.
Bah!
Don't bust my balls.
Who is it now?
Enough, Friday!
Who is it?
Julian.
Who?
Julian Araya.
Damn it, Friday! Cut it out!
Uh, why?
Why what?
I don't know. Why are you here?
I'm here to see you.
I'm sorry, but I don't…
I'm just kinda lost here.
Enough, Friday!
He's a friend of your mama's!
Hey! Sh! Keep quiet!
Calm down!
She hates men. If she smells one, she goes nuts.
Friday is her name?
Yeah, we found her on a Friday with Boris.
Ten years ago, in the road.
She's crazy and blind so she stays in there.
Hello?
-Oh, so you're why the dog was barking. -Milo, you're almost naked.
This is a bad time. I should come back later.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Well, yeah, this is a bad time,
but not because my boyfriend's walking around naked.
It's because it took you 30 years to show up here.
And suddenly…
Ever heard of a phone?
Fucking hell!
Goddamn dog.
Friday!
Shut up!
I should be able to have male visitors
without, well, you acting all… psychotic.
Shut it!
I'll show you who's crazy.
Enough!
I said enough.
It's priceless.
Waking up in the morning and seeing this.
It's priceless.
We got a wonderful planet, don't you think?
Yes.
But I haven't gone to any others to compare.
So…
-Shall we? -Yeah.
The things they must see from up there.
Hmm.
I often dream that I'm a bird. It's a wonderfully strange feeling.
Have you ever dreamed you were flying?
You asked me that many times before, you know?
-Really? -Oh, yeah.
No. I never dreamed that I was flying.
Maybe that's why I became a pilot.
Do you remember playing giant with Boris?
Oh, oh!
Of course I do.
Let's see if you can fly. Come on.
See how it flies? Look, there it is, behind the sun.
And even further behind the sun.
Oh, look. Come here.
Hmm?
It's Gorda.
You remember Gorda, don't you?
Of course, how could I forget her?
-How old was she? -She lasted 16 years.
One night, she went to sleep, and that was it.
A wise old woman. A bit arthritic by the end, poor thing.
But she handled it like a queen, my sweetheart.
Hmm, I don't doubt it.
Now I've got that man-hating beast in the house.
Why did you come, Julian?
I want to close this chapter of my life.
You kept it open? For me, it was closed long ago.
Not for me.
Not for Boris either.
He's avoiding me.
Apparently, we both have some unfinished business.
We were so happy back then.
When the three of us were together.
And you were happy with your family.
Do you still feel guilty?
Is that why you came?
I feel guilty for letting you decide, to be honest.
Oh, okay. You think I needed your permission.
No. I'm talking about what happened to me.
And what I didn't do.
I just let things continue.
And I thought…
I don't know.
That, with time, everything would work itself out.
It's been almost 30 years.
You thought that if you didn't know where we were,
we would just disappear, and you'd forget about us.
No, I was afraid.
Afraid of making a mistake, afraid… of losing it all.
And I missed the chance to watch my son grow up.
What does he think happened? What did you tell him?
Well, I told him the truth.
That his dad had always had another family,
and that he'd chosen to live with them.
That I was a coward.
I didn't tell him you were a coward, or a son of a bitch, or an asshole.
I think he figured that one out on his own.
Was I wrong to come see you?
You came to see me?
Or was it to ask me to convince him to see you?
And Andrea? Is she still alive?
Yes, yes, of course. Why do you ask?
I don't know. She always had something going on.
Her ovaries, her asthma, her blood, her thyroid.
I thought she might not last very long.
But I'm glad she's still with us.
And you?
You don't fly anymore, I imagine.
-No, no, I retired six… six years ago. -Hmm.
December 25th, 2019, was the last time I piloted an airplane.
Hmm.
Hmm. I don't know why, but…
I get the feeling that…
wherever your flights took you,
there was always someone waiting for you.
No?
A guy named Julian Araya came by.
Isn't your dad's name Julian?
When did he come?
At 6:30, when I came back from Bebe's.
He was out front in a blue car, waiting.
Hey.
-Are you listening? -Yeah.
He showed up at the visitors' center.
After 28 years. Great guy, right?
Good morning. We're so excited for the tour.
Hello, good morning. Let's gather round.
-Good morning. Welcome, everyone. -Good morning.
I'm Boris. I'll be your guide and captain, so all eyes on me.
-How are we doin'? -Just waiting on two, and we're good.
The first group is my favorite, you know?
'Cause you're the people who woke up early in order to be the first tour of the day.
So I assume you're all ready for a rush of adrenaline today.
And if not, you'll have to deal with it.
Lucas and Bautista?
Sorry. We totally overslept.
Yeah, no kidding. Hello.
Get in, you two. You'll wake up soon.
Come on.
ADVENTURE TOURS
Okay, everyone, let's get ready for a shower.
I'm gonna ask those who are standing to please sit and keep hold of your seats.
From now on, no one's allowed to stand, okay?
Put away all your belongings, cell phones, cameras, wallets.
Everything nice and secure in the bag we gave you, and we'll be okay.
All right, let's go.
Oh my God, I must be crazy.
I'm sorry I booked the tour without letting you know.
I don't usually do things like this, but we need to talk.
-Nothing to talk about. -I think there is.
You could've kicked me off the tour, but you didn't.
Why did you come?
I came to see you.
I'd like to buy you a drink after work, if you'll let me.
Why would I do that?
You need a new lamp. How long has it been flickering like that?
Hmm, I don't know, but you do realize that man is a creature of habit, right?
Bad habits, in your case.
You wanna fix it? Go ahead. Hmm?
Can we talk about it?
I asked you if we could talk about it.
That depends.
Well… End of discussion.
Well, we're not gonna fight about it now. We're still good, aren't we? Yeah?
He took the tour.
-No. -No.
You didn't mention that.
That… that's outstanding!
I like this guy.
And?
And nothing. He was just another passenger.
What do you mean, "and nothing"?
But your father's not just another passenger.
Did you talk?
No. He tried, but no.
Alba, this guy's a real dumbass.
What's with the insult, you son of a bitch?
Boris! Hmm?
Are you saying you're not curious as to why he came to see you?
-No. -That's total bullshit.
Don't pretend you're not interested.
He's your father, you must be. And he's here.
How can you say you don't care?
Your dad might have been a son of a bitch, a scumbag, a piece of shit.
However you want to say it. That's okay, but he's still your dad.
Got that? And life is not easy. It is a struggle.
It is so difficult.
-Come on. -And that justifies it all?
Right? We demolish whatever and whoever we want.
It doesn't matter 'cause life is a struggle, and that's it.
You are extremely angry with your father, but yeah.
You have no clue how much you piss me off when you do that.
Tell the truth?
It's the way you say it, you pretentious asshole.
You think you know everything?
What, now that you're old and fucked up, you can just talk outta your ass, right?
Is that it? Well, go to hell, you bastard. Go straight to hell!
Life isn't that easy, dickhead.
It's not a gift. You have to have balls.
Life is giving you a tremendous opportunity.
I hope you realize that.
Go talk to him.
-Yeah? -Yes, he needs you now.
Okay. Back soon.
What's my mom doing here?
What are you doing here? What's wrong?
Nothing. My boyfriend left, I got lonely.
So I said, "I'm going to get drunk with the kids."
Pepper vodka. For spicy conversation.
Did he come see you?
Hmm.
He asked you to convince me to see him, huh?
You really should talk to him. Sweetheart, just hear him out, okay?
He's staying at the St. George.
-Yup. He's a son of a bitch. -Hang on, I'll come with you.
-No, no, no, no. -No, Leti, he's not himself.
-Please. -No. No.
Don't you listen when people talk to you?
I told you to leave me alone, and you go see my mom?
Let me explain. You don't exist anymore. Not for her, not for me.
It's been that way for years.
What the hell are you even doing here?
Did you get kicked out 'cause you're a worthless piece of shit?
Are you trying to mooch off of us now?
I screwed everything up.
I behaved terribly. And I hope you forgive me.
But even if you hate me, even if you spit in my eye, you're still my son.
And I'm allowed to ask you for forgiveness, in person, face to face.
Oh!
Hey, hey. Hey, stop. Stop.
What are you doing?
-No, stop. Don't hit him. -Call the police.
Hurry up!
-Are you okay? -How'd you find me?
When you didn't come back, we went to the hotel and they told us.
Are you sure you're okay?
-Mm-hm. -What are you, a savage?
You were just supposed to talk. Have a conversation, not a fight.
A conversation. Can't you simply use words?
-Didn't I teach you to talk? -Leti!
-Did they tell you anything? -Not yet. They're looking at him.
The hotel filed a police report, just so you know.
You'll face criminal charges for patricide.
Leti, cut it out. He didn't kill him.
-We don't know yet. He might've. -Would you calm down?
You calm down, kid. Who's the violent one here?
The person going around beating up fathers.
-You. Not me, you. -Family of Julian Araya?
That's us.
-Oh, is he your husband? -No.
No.
I brought him in. I'm the son.
-Oh. -And the attacker. Who's also my son.
Uh, I had him with the victim around… 35 years ago.
-How is Julian, Doctor? -He's a little fragile.
But… but stable, considering his, uh… his situation.
There's a bruise on his cheek, and a fractured rib as well.
You're a psychopath.
Well, he's under sedation now, and as soon as you can arrange it,
I'd like to speak with the specialist who's treating him.
What specialist?
Well, he's been getting treatment for cancer.
He was going to tell you if you hadn't beat his ass.
Poor devil.
He hasn't been in touch with his dad for quite a while, so he didn't know.
Well, that's life.
Hmm. Yeah.
Good morning.
-Good morning. -How are you feeling today?
Uh, fine.
We're giving you one painkiller a day now. One to ten, how much pain are you in?
Five.
I fell asleep.
How long have you been there?
-A little while. -She was here all night.
I don't know how to apologize to you. I really don't.
I don't know why he'd do something like that to you.
Yes, you do know.
As soon as the doctor gets in, he'll come see you, okay?
-Now I'll get some breakfast for you. -Is it possible to get a double coffee?
Uh, the service is only for patients. I'm sorry.
Oh, okay.
Excuse me.
I just asked for a fucking coffee, not a continental breakfast.
You can have some of my tea.
No, don't worry, I'll have one later. It's all right.
Oh!
I must look like a total mess.
Thanks for staying last night.
It was the least I could do.
After what happened, I couldn't just leave you alone in the hospital.
Last night, I was thinking,
if no one had stopped him, you and I might not be talking right now.
Where is he now?
At the police station. He was arrested.
How come? Who had him arrested?
The hotel staff. It was a real scandal over there.
Now they'll give you a free room until the day you die.
It won't cost them that much.
I'm sorry, I didn't…
You know some phrases just kinda slip out?
I didn't mean it like that.
Well, at least he had the decency to take you here.
You don't remember.
Of course you wouldn't. You were knocked out, poor thing.
Even though he behaves like a beast sometimes,
I'm telling you, the kid has a heart of gold.
He's a sweetheart and a good man.
Hi.
-Hi there. -Look at you.
-No, I'm fine. -Oh, but…
Relax, relax.
-Hi, Dad. -Hi.
-Oh! -Why did he hit you like that?
He's an animal.
Sometimes a wounded animal can be a bit aggressive.
Hello, Leticia.
Hi, Andrea.
I'm Luciana.
Lula.
Nice to meet you.
Who told you? The police? The hotel?
I did.
What happened was a big deal. They're your family. They needed to know.
I used your phone.
-Hmm. -You're very trusting, no password.
And the first name that showed up in "favorites" was… Andrea.
Well,
I'll leave you in good hands.
Anything you need, call me.
-Hmm? -Thanks a lot.
Yes, thanks.
-Bye. -Bye.
Wow.
This is yours.
Hi, Boris.
I'm Andrea, Julian's wife.
The hotel people just dropped the charges.
Julian asked them to do that.
I'm going to get the van. Where are you?
At Bebe's.
Okay. Um… I'll be there in a little bit, all right?
Are you okay?
Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, all good.
-Great, I'll wait for you here. -Okay. Bye.
Your wife, girlfriend, or just friend?
Girlfriend.
Your fuel light's on. You need to get gas.
Ah, yes.
All these years that he didn't visit you,
he seemed restless.
Like he had unfinished business.
He didn't talk about it, but I picked up on it.
We women tend to be very intuitive.
And very stupid sometimes.
When did you find out?
I had my suspicions about the relationship with your mom for some time.
And I knew for sure when he stopped doing the route from Buenos Aires to Salta.
He'd done that route for years.
He never wanted to give it up, but one day, that changed.
Out of the blue.
And he changed as well.
One night, when we were going to bed,
he began to, uh, shake like a leaf.
And he asked me to hold him.
I held him very tightly. He started crying like he was a child.
He told me the whole story.
The relationship with your mother,
that it had been going on for eight years, but it was over.
He didn't mention me, did he?
I suspected.
And… I found out about you a few months ago.
When the doctors informed us the cancer was terminal.
I was furious.
His son was over 30 years old, but I just found out about him.
Yeah.
Affairs can be forgiven, but not a kid.
That's how it goes, right?
No.
No, I don't know.
But now it's not about me anymore.
It's about Julian. And you.
MOM
I KNOW YOU'RE OUT WHY WON'T YOU ANSWER?
-Hi, what can I do for you? -Hi. Fill it up, please.
-Regular or diesel? -Regular.
Diesel.
This must be very difficult for you.
He's been my lifelong companion.
Now he's going first. It's his time.
And I will be with him.
Until the end, in every way I possibly can be.
One of those ways is to convince me to forgive him, isn't it?
No, no.
No one can ask that of you, certainly not me.
What I can do is…
…is merely to ask you to listen to what he has to say.
That's about it.
And you'd have the opportunity to tell him some things. Right?
I imagine you have a lot to say to him.
If you give yourself permission to speak with Julian,
you'll live a better life, trust me.
And he'll die a better death.
Mom, it's me. Open up!
Stop it, Friday!
Come on, open up!
You're kidding me.
What's wrong?
-Nothing. -What do you mean by nothing?
You've been calling and texting me non-stop.
It took you two hours to get here.
I could've died and been resurrected seven times. Reincarnated, whatever.
Open the door. Don't be ridiculous.
You're a grown woman, Mom. Open the damn door!
Stop fucking around!
Enough, Friday! It's your brother, for fuck's sake!
Sometimes I feel like putting her down.
Poor animal. She's had it rough.
Smoking again?
For, like, six months, after I split with Alex.
Wasn't his name Alexis?
Alexis.
-Hug me. Come on. -Oh God.
-You're intense today. -Come on, kiddo.
How many times have I held you in 35 years?
Oh…
Hmm.
Hmm. You give good hugs.
There you go.
Your dad always gave great hugs.
When he held me, I would feel like I wasn't afraid of anything.
He made me feel safe.
I don't want him to die.
I hate the fact that he's dying.
-I loved him a lot, you know? -Mm-hm.
And he loved me back.
He loved you so much.
COASTAL HOSPITAL
Who are you? You can't be here.
I'm… I'm his son.
-Do you have authorization? -It's okay.
He won't stay long. Please.
Two minutes, 'cause I could get in trouble.
They told me you're pretty sick.
Yes. Very.
Would you still have come if you weren't…
dying?
I don't know.
Forgive me, son.
Do you want me to control the oxygen for Marina?
Anyway, I…
I'm gonna go.
I didn't know you were so sick, otherwise…
I deserve it.
Um, I was just leaving.
-Cancel the next tour for me. -Why?
Cancel it.
I already booked the tickets and the two transfers.
From here to the airport and from the airport to home.
Hello?
Oh.
Uh, yeah, he can come up. Thank you.
Who is it?
-Boris. -Why's he here?
-Should I tell him to go away? -No, no, it's fine.
-I thought you'd want to see him. -It's okay.
-Help me to the chair over there. -Okay.
-Hi. -Hi.
-I hope I'm not imposing. -No, no, no. We don't mind at all.
Come in.
Thank you.
-Hi. -Hi.
My mom told me you were being discharged in the afternoon,
but the hospital said they let you out at noon.
You went to the hospital?
Yeah, well, in case you needed a ride or something like that. Yeah.
Oh.
How are you feeling?
Much better.
Much better, thank goodness.
-Hmm. -We can order room service if you want.
The coffee's not bad. Sit… sit down.
Thanks. No, no, I'm fine. I have to get back soon.
-I have a tour later this afternoon. -Oh.
How are you doing? Good?
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, it's all good.
And do you know when you're going back to Buenos Aires?
-Tomorrow. -Oh.
-Do you have plans tonight? -No.
-If you want, we could have dinner. -Yeah, let's have dinner.
We'll have some wine.
And a little conversation.
-Can you have alcohol? -I'll have morphine.
Okay.
Uh…
Do you want to go out? Or we could order something here.
Or… or I can bring food and we can eat here.
-No, let's go out. -Yeah?
Let's go out, yes.
-Does eight work for you? -I'll be waiting for you at eight.
All prettied up for you.
-See you tonight, then. -Okay.
Are you going to wear a jacket or a coat?
A coat.
Hmm.
Hmm!
What a delight.
I remember when you used to do that.
Hmm. Do what?
Hmm.
What else do you remember?
-Some things, not many. -Ah.
-Everything okay here? -Everything's fine, thanks.
And you?
What do you remember?
Some things, not many. Same as you.
The other day, your mom reminded me about the giant.
Do you remember the giant?
Every time I see a kid on his dad's shoulders.
Hmm.
From up there, you saw wonderful places. Huh?
The Amazon, the Rock of Gibraltar.
The Great Wall of China was my favorite.
The Colossus of Rhodes,
which had been gone for 2,000 years, but you saw it.
I saw Argentina in the '94 World Cup from up there.
That's right.
Hmm, that's right.
I cried that day.
And I still remember the nurse responsible for taking Diego to the drug test.
Sue Carpenter was her name.
That bitch.
And I also have memories of…
of birthdays,
Christmases,
New Year's Eve,
Children's Day, Father's Day.
That, I imagined,
I had made up.
You coulda come sometime.
No, but you moved out of Salta.
After about a year and a half.
And then it was a long time before I found out where you were.
-Hmm. -I looked on Facebook for you.
I never had Facebook.
But you had Instagram.
I could finally see you on there.
It was really startling. Quite a shock.
From the last image I had of you at seven years old,
suddenly, I found this 23-year-old kid.
-Want some more? -No, no, I'm good.
You know that…
…when I finished high school, we… we took a trip to Brazil for our graduation.
We were in the airport
to catch the… the flight to Rio.
I thought I saw you walking with another pilot.
-Oh, really? -Mm-hm.
So I followed you… for a little while.
And just when you were about to board, I shouted, "Julian Araya!"
You turned around. That's when I knew it was you.
But… You looked around, but you didn't see me.
Oh, but why didn't you come and say hi?
What? You'd have said hi?
Of course. If I knew you were there, I would have given you a big hug.
Well… I hid instead.
I got scared.
Your mom made a damn good egg-white flan. Absolutely delicious.
-Does she still make it? -No, thank God.
It was so good.
Are you joking? It was rank.
She was always a terrible cook. She doesn't like it.
No, the way she avoids the kitchen, it's crazy.
You know what she'd say when I said I was hungry?
No.
"It'll pass soon."
No!
A lousy cook and a bad mother.
A real piece of work.
I want to get your perspective on what happened back then.
My perspective on the past doesn't matter. I just care about what it is now.
-And what is it now? -This.
-Define "this." -Oh, you're so annoying, dude.
And you're so damn closed off, dude.
What is "this"?
This is a father and a son,
reconnecting after 28 years in a noisy restaurant.
That's what it is.
Nothing more?
The fact that you're dying doesn't change what happened.
Fair enough.
You're very honest.
You could've lied to me, and you didn't.
Do you think I'm here out of pity?
I want to be here.
Just so you know, all right?
Twenty-one years with this girl and the flame hasn't gone out.
Hey! And we're still starting some damn good fires, aren't we, big guy? Huh?
Mwah!
GRILLED FISH
Wanna get a nightcap, or do you need to go back to the hotel?
I'm up for whatever you want.
You sure? You seem… a little wobbly.
Let's keep going.
All right.
Thank you.
How long have you been with Alba?
A year and a half.
And are you in love?
We're good for now.
What would you say if I told you Leticia is the woman I loved most in my life?
That you were a moron.
-That's right. -Yup.
Did you ever regret things?
Our whole saga.
No, never, no. Not once.
No.
Anyway, it had to stop at some point.
It wasn't fair to anyone.
It was horrible being with you guys,
and always thinking maybe it'd be the last time.
And then going back to Buenos Aires like nothing happened,
resuming my other life.
Ooh!
I spent many nights just lying awake in bed,
thinking about
what I should do.
I never loved Andrea the same way I loved your mother.
But our relationship was stable.
Unconditional.
Oh, I'd watch her sleeping next to me.
Relaxed, ignoring everything that was happening.
I'd go to my daughters' room.
And I'd look at them.
I felt like a real son of a bitch.
There was no way I could leave them behind.
You're an asshole.
-No, no. Wait, wait, wait. -Let me go.
Let me finish what I'm saying. Why do you think I came?
To make sure my mom and I forgive you for all your shit before you die.
That's why you're here.
Scumbag.
Boris, Boris. Don't go.
-Please, listen to me. -You never stop, do you?
Don't you get it?
You keep talking about Leticia, Andrea, your daughters.
And your son?
You never think about me, do you?
It was my mom who sent your ass packing
because she got fed up waiting for you, not me.
You can go fuck yourself!
I waited for you for a long time before I realized you were never coming back.
Don't dare say, "I'm back now," because I'll beat the shit out of you,
and no one will stop me this time.
You're selfish pieces of shit, the two of you.
You and that crazy mother of mine.
She always knew you weren't gonna leave your family
to come and live with the two of us.
But when she got pregnant, she decided to have me anyway.
Because she had to seal that love with a kid.
Yeah.
Plus, everyone had to admire her. Sure.
"What a woman, that Leticia!"
"Can you believe how brave she is, raising a kid on her own?"
That bitch was some kind of powerful woman, huh?
Neither of you thought about me. Not once.
Look at me.
Because this is the baby you had
with the woman you loved the most, asshole.
You come here now?
When you've only got ten minutes left?
What, so I can tell you everything's all right?
Well, it's not all right, Araya.
It's impossible for it to be all right.
Uh…
You're right. Nobody thought about you.
We were both irresponsible, me much more than your mother, of course.
I denied you in front of my wife and daughters to protect myself.
I behaved absolutely horribly and selfishly.
And in the same way that I kept trying to be part of both families,
knowing it was impossible,
I came asking you to forgive me.
Knowing perfectly well that it's too late.
Only a complete son of a bitch, a bastard,
I don't know, a psychopath…
would purposefully try to ruin their child's life.
And I swear to you…
that I'm not any one of those things.
Another whiskey, please.
I'll have one too.
Better?
Oh, yeah.
-Hotel or hospital? -No.
-No hotel or no hospital? -Hospital.
-Okay, hospital it is. -No!
-Not the hospital! -Okay.
All right, we'll go to the hotel. I misunderstood, sorry.
Let's go.
This is going to get worse and worse.
I need to be able to die with dignity.
I want a proper death.
You're the only person I can ask to help me.
My daughters would never do it.
And my wife even less so.
Did you provoke me on purpose?
-Huh? When? -Don't pretend you don't know.
Were you trying to get me to beat you to death?
I was just talking to you about dying with dignity.
What you're suggesting is absurd.
And asking me to commit murder is logical?
So on top of abandonment issues, I gotta cope with killing you?
It would only be an assisted suicide.
Not an execution.
You're amazing.
You leave when you want, you come back when you want.
You die when you want.
I have the right to choose exactly how
and when I'm going to die.
Forgive me. I'm sorry.
Never mind.
I'm asking too much.
All the medication running through me keeps me from thinking clearly.
Forgive me, really.
Take me to the hotel.
Well, thanks a lot for tonight.
I don't know if it can be considered… a small miracle
or a small tragedy.
But it's what I came for.
Thank you.
I'm very proud that you're my son.
No, no, no. I got it. I got it.
I'm okay.
It's okay, it's okay.
It's okay.
Easy, easy.
Darling…
Oh, it's okay.
The only major thing your dad has to do right now
is to die.
Does he know how?
I don't know. He didn't mention it.
Hmm. Is he afraid?
Uh…
-I think so. I don't know. -What do you think? Hmm?
I don't know, dude. I don't know.
I can only guess, 'cause I don't know the guy, you know?
Oh, with the right concoction, you could manage a perfect escape.
I assume this is something you've been thinking about?
Mm-hm.
Oh, Bebe.
I had five bottles of the stuff prepared.
Four of them
disappeared.
They spoiled or they broke,
leaving me with one.
-Interested? -No.
No. Thank you, but no. Plus, it's too late. He already left.
Who already left?
My father. He's in Buenos Aires.
Oh, your father's alive in Buenos Aires?
Yeah.
Hmm. So he didn't die?
Stop busting your own balls.
Your dad's alive.
So you've got time to go to Buenos Aires
so that you can help him die how he wants.
POTASSIUM
-What is it now? -Your father.
He's not dead yet, don't… don't freak out. He's still here.
Do you mean still in town or not dead yet? I'm not following you.
Here. Here in Iguazu. He never left.
He's back in the hospital.
And yes, he's still with us. But not for much longer.
Um, okay. Uh, uh…
I'm on my way.
How are you doing?
-Hi. -Hi.
I just found out you couldn't travel.
Yes, uh, this morning, he was in a bad way.
We spoke to the doctor in Buenos Aires and the doctor here,
and they agreed it would be best for him to spend a few days in the hospital
to regain his strength, you know?
Oh.
Oh, and, um, this is Lula, my eldest daughter.
Hi.
-We meet at last. -Yes.
It did him good that you two went out. He's happier now.
So you don't know how many days you're staying in town?
No. Two or three days, I suppose.
I'm leaving, though.
My husband's traveling to Mexico for work, and we have two kids.
Would you like to see him?
He'd be so happy to see you again.
Okay.
Uh, I'll walk Lula out, and see if I can find some water.
I'd like to maybe meet up someday and have a talk.
I bet we'd have plenty to say.
Right, right. That's for sure.
Bye, Boris.
-Safe travels. -Thank you.
Make it quick.
Visiting hours are almost over.
Can I come in?
What happened? They didn't let the pilot board the plane?
The pilot is a little too damaged to make the flight.
Seems like you're a lightweight.
Your mother just left.
Yeah, I ran into her.
All your women at once? It worked out?
There's nothing left for them to fight over.
Hmm.
Listen to me.
You take care of her.
Honey, I'm leaving.
Will I see you later?
Uh, maybe. We'll see.
Okay. Well, I love you.
Hi, how's it going?
What are you doing here?
I was hanging out, and thought I'd keep you company.
Are you trying to escape?
No, it's just that…
There was a bird perched right over there.
-A bird? -Yes.
But the window is closed.
You okay?
No.
Why don't you lie down for a while?
I need to take a piss.
I can't do it.
Each day, there are fewer parts of me that work.
Relax, if you obsess about it, it'll never work.
Pssss…
Oh.
See? There you go, buddy. That's how it's done. Let it all out!
Do you think there's something on the other side?
What other side?
The other side of this life.
Oh. Well…
I don't know.
You're still very young.
When you get older, you start wondering about those things.
Or when your diagnosis is terminal, like mine.
Well, you might be surprised.
I've been thinking about it quite a while.
When my grandpa John died, I remember that… I couldn't…
I couldn't comprehend that he wasn't there anymore.
I can't imagine that this consciousness, this…
all these sensations,
all the sights and sounds,
they just switch off, and that's it.
Is it a blackout?
An instantaneous void? Nothing?
It'd be just like sleeping. Wouldn't it?
Yes and no. You dream when you sleep.
No.
I don't think we fully die.
The body does, for sure, but…
this… this energy, this consciousness keeps on floating around, you know?
In some kinda…
immateriality.
Man, that's good!
-Hmm? -Listen to me! Did you hear that?
Immateriality.
-I'm a poet. -A philosopher.
Not bad for a guide whose main talent is taking you to the Devil's Throat.
What do you think of that, Araya?
So you think this all continues on somehow.
I'd like to think so, but I don't know.
Well, I'm gonna find out.
Hmm.
Well, if there is an afterlife,
let me know, so I won't be as in the dark as you are now
when it's my time to go.
But don't go overboard.
Nothing crazy. I get scared shitless by that stuff.
Seriously.
I'll be subtle, don't worry.
I promise.
My mouth is really dry.
Listen, Araya.
About what you said to me last night. About me helping you do it.
What do you want to know?
Were you serious? Or was it a crazy, spur-of-the-moment thing?
No, it wasn't anything crazy. I was serious.
I know how this is gonna go.
Lying on my deathbed for days
in agony
and pumped full of chemicals
that will rob me of my lucidity,
and I'll die without realizing that I'm dying.
In a dismal intensive care unit, afraid,
surrounded by strangers.
Bunch of bullshit.
I don't want that ending for me. I deserve better than that.
And your wife and daughters? What will they think?
They'll be surprised. They won't expect it.
Although I've tiptoed around the subject.
But at some point, they'll end up coming to the conclusion
that there was no sense in dragging out… the inevitable,
just for a few extra weeks.
And it's good for them.
I'll spare them from going through that…
continual, horrible torture.
There's a… good friend of mine.
A guy your age.
He has this mixture
that's kind of weird
to make your exit when the time comes.
You follow me?
What kind of weird mixture?
A preparation of certain herbs and mushrooms.
You know, like those potions shamans use in ceremonies.
But stronger, more intense.
And apparently, it makes the takeoff smoother.
It's a…
trip… that's one-way.
Yes.
-Yes what? -Yes, I wanna do it.
What's the matter?
Aren't you telling me all this so I'll do it?
You thought I was gonna say no.
Yup.
You don't know me.
No, I don't know you. No.
Yeah.
When do you think?
-Right now. -Right now?
Because tomorrow or maybe the day after, they'll let me go back to Buenos Aires.
So it'll either be tonight
or possibly never.
You wanna back out?
You understand that all this is… a lot for me, right?
Yes, of course. I know.
No, not here.
Where, then?
If we do it here, they might walk in in the middle,
and end up saving me, that'd be terrible.
Take me somewhere else.
Somewhere else?
-No, dude, you'll get me sent to jail. -Why?
What do you mean, "why"? It's not easy to leave secretly.
At this hour, there's not much happening.
Are you ready to sprint if they see us?
No.
Because you may not be here tomorrow, but I will.
I can't go to prison.
They would charge you with intent to commit patricide.
You're right, I can't do that to you.
What about a note?
In… in my handwriting.
I'll tell them it was my decision.
That's a valid document for the courts.
There's a place I go to sometimes when I wanna be alone.
-I could take you there. -You take me.
You give me the mixture.
And you go.
-Here we go. -Yeah.
That's it.
-Okay. -Yeah.
-All right. -Are we good?
-Yeah. -Go. Don't let them see you.
Shouldn't we leave it open?
So they know how I escaped.
Yeah, okay.
All right. Let's go.
That way.
DEAR ANDREA, LULA, AND HELE
Andrea, my life partner.
My beloved daughters.
I'm choosing to go early.
With dignity.
I'm sorry for the suddenness of this decision.
But this is how I need to take my final journey.
My friend's place is over there.
Give him my thanks.
I wish we could have met each other.
Well, he's not in good shape, so you might be meeting him really soon.
Sorry.
I don't have much time left.
And all that remains is agony.
And suffering.
Everything I had to do, I've already done.
I'm leaving with a clear mind, and in peace.
I'll continue to be that daddy bird.
The grandpa who travels among the clouds.
Thank you for this life we shared.
Thank you for the love,
the care,
and the understanding.
Is this it?
It's further in. It's part of the park that's not open to the public.
And as I always said to you every time I left,
my loves,
until we meet again.
No, it screws me up.
It's mild. Try it. It'll calm you down.
I don't wanna get paranoid. I've had that happen.
Nothing bad will happen. Just try a little bit.
Where is it?
It comforts me sometimes…
imagining that when I close my eyes, I won't be the only one.
That thousands will be going at the same time.
Walk me up there and leave me.
It's time.
You have to go.
Hello, darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision
That was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound
Of silence
In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar To the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed
By the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound
Of silence
And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs
That voices never shared
And no one dared
Disturb the sound
Of silence
"Fools," said I, "You don't know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I may teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words
Like silent raindrops fell
Echoed
In the wells
Of silence
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said "The words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered
In the sound
Of silence"