01x06 - Little Alba

[bunniefuu]

[somber instrumental music playing]

[baby crying]

Congratulations, Senator.

You're a grandfather.

[hopeful music playing]

I want to see him.

To see her.

She's a little girl.

[baby continues crying]

[Esteban] Her hair.

Her hair is green.

Just like Rosa's.

[coos]

[Alba] Against all odds,

my arrival
brought a new balance to the family.

[exhilarating instrumental music playing]

[indistinct conversation]

[Young Alba] How are you?

[indistinct conversation]

[Alba] My grandfather could never
belong to that world.

I was only able to understand
why many years later.

Grandpa?

My princess. I finally found you.

Grandma doesn't like you poking
around this part of the house.

What if we don't tell her about it?

[both chuckle softly]

[man on radio] My dear friends tuning in.

We remind you

that the concert series
will continue at the headquarters

of the metal workers' union.

[Alba] My mom didn't talk about the past,

let alone about my father.

She kept herself busy organizing the house
and creating her invented animals.

Unknowingly, she was shaping in clay

what Rosa embroidered
with threads on her tablecloth.

[man on radio] …even now
with his first single,

from the hardworking lands of the South…

-listening to Pedro Garcia.
-[instrumental music playing]

♪ When the hands stay up together ♪

♪ All night long until the break of dawn ♪

♪ Their wings ready, fully awakened ♪

♪ They aren't guarding ♪

-[volume increases]
-♪ What is yet to come ♪

♪ And the fox is hunting ♪

♪ Every night he's lurking ♪

{\an8} ♪ Steals the flock
Strips them of their dignity ♪

{\an8} ♪ You won't beat us this time ♪

{\an8} ♪ We can all now bear witness ♪

{\an8} ♪ You have no one
And together we are more ♪

{\an8} ♪ We are more ♪

{\an8} ♪ Many more ♪

{\an8} ♪ We're far more ♪

{\an8} ♪ We are more ♪

{\an8} ♪ Many more ♪

{\an8} ♪ We're far more ♪

{\an8} ♪ We are ready ♪

{\an8} ♪ We're not waiting any more ♪

{\an8} ♪ Raise our arms
and stand our ground now ♪

{\an8} ♪ We are more ♪

♪ Many more ♪

♪ We're far more ♪

[music ends]

[bells chiming]

[man] The presence of the Earth,
by its very nature,

is alive.

[Nora] Poet,

could I change the word
presence for fragrance?

The most potent fragrance is the onion,
my dear.

Where is Clara?

She knows all the answers.

[man] Fragrance.

[Luisa] Clara!

[indistinct chatter]

[Clara] Do you remember
the name of that star?

[Young Alba] That's not a star.

-It's Venus.
-Very good.

Can you remember the name
of those three there?

Las Tres Marías, like our farm.

What are you thinking of, my love?

About my dad.

Sometimes I dream that he didn't
pass away in the desert,

and that he comes to visit me.

You know what?

I really think that truly
desiring a thing in your heart

can make it happen.

I love you.

[Alba] At that moment,
I had no way of knowing

that one of my grandmother's
last wishes in life

would be for me to meet my real father
who hadn't actually died.

[captivating instrumental music playing]

[hopeful music playing]

[groans softly]

[breathing deeply]

[exhales]

[music playing indistinctly]

♪ We are more ♪

♪ We are ready
We're not waiting anymore ♪

Excuse me.

♪ Raise our arms
and stand our ground now ♪

Excuse me.

♪ Let's defend our freedom
and our way of life ♪

♪ If we come together we are more ♪

♪ We are more ♪

♪ Many more ♪

♪ We're far more ♪

[audience cheering and applauding]

Thank you, comrades.
Long live the people, the working class!

Come on!

My grandfather always told me that

a song can also be a weapon in this fight.

I held my guitar,
tired of injustices in the land, so…

you could say it's cowardly or that it
makes my life comfortable,

and you're right.

[all laughing]

Now, if you don't mind,
my next song will be about love.

[audience exclaiming]

Duty alone cannot sustain a man.

-[woman] That's right.
-For you all.

[music playing]

♪ The moon in the distance ♪

♪ Rising in her sweet dwelling ♪

♪ Won my heart with her brightness ♪

♪ I got lost in her radiance ♪

♪ Casting light on the flowers ♪

♪ I… ♪

♪ The world showed no kindness ♪

♪ And the man no refinement ♪

♪ On the lands and its riches ♪

♪ Even time and its seconds ♪

♪ On the moon and its brightness ♪

♪ I… ♪

Pleasure, comrades.

[all cheering]

Thank you, thank you.

-Thank you, thank you. Cheers!
-[man] Cheers.

Cheers. Cheers. Thank you.

My friends.

[slow hopeful instrumental music playing]

[woman] Pedro, my love.

That was amazing, honey.

[sobbing softly]

[breathing heavily]

[sighs]

[people laughing]

[intense music playing]

[woman] We're losing her!
Losing her!

[laughter continues]

She's abandoning ship!

[shushes] It's all right.

-[breathing heavily]
-She's doing great.

Feels good to let it out.

Of all the practices inter channeling,
I'll admit that I like this one the most.

[coughing]

It's all right, breathe.

[breathing heavily]

Grandma, are you okay?

-Of course, my love.
-I'm fine, darling.

[Clara continues breathing heavily]

No, it's over. It's over.

The past doesn't exist.

It doesn't exist?

Yes, time is a fiction, little one.

What Nora is trying to say is that
neither past event nor the future exists,

-if you think about it.
-Exactly.

All that exists is the now.

Imagine everything unfolding
at the same time,

allowing us to intervene in our own past,

to create the future we dream of.

I mean, for example, go into the kitchen
to find something yummy to eat.

[gasps] That's a good idea.

So much energetic exercise made me hungry.

Oh, me, too, my dear.

And you? Mmm-hmm? let's go home.

Mm-hmm.

[footsteps walking away]

[breathing heavily]

[exhilarating instrumental music playing]

-Hello, Clara.
-Hi.

-[birds chirping]
-Pip, pip.

[Clara] What is happening to you?

[Blanca] Mom,

please stop inviting people to stay here.

I can't manage everything that needs
to be done in this house anymore.

Did you see Pedro?

Hiding things won't do you
any good, you know,

and being angry at your dad
forever won't either.

Why are you telling me this?

I want you to be happy, my love.

[Young Alba] Grandma!

[Esteban] What did you say to her
that made her tell me not to wear a watch?

If we don't measure time,

how can we celebrate your birthday?

We'll celebrate it anyway.

Yes.

Tell your grandfather he can stay
if he promises not to be annoying.

-Grandma says you can stay.
-Yes, yes, yes.

I already heard. Thank you, sweetie.

This little messenger dove
has to go to sleep.

-[Jaime] Hello?
-[Young Alba] No!

How are you?

-[Young Alba] Uncle!
-Welcome home.

Hey! Hello, sweetie.

Everything okay?

I think it's been a long time
since we've been together.

Today, we'll eat as a family.

[clock chiming]

[intense music playing]

Mom, are you okay?

[mystical music playing]

[whispering]

[angelic music playing]

Ferula passed away.

[Alba] Everyone, even those
who stayed away from magic,

were able to see Ferula.

Forgive me, Clara,
for not bringing you sooner,

but she made me promise
that her whereabouts

would be under the seal of confession.

This way, please.

I can't believe it.

I-- I visited her two days.

And where is the money
I sent her all these years?

What are you suggesting, Esteban?

I'm sorry for your loss.

She liked to wear dresses like that
and put on wigs, but, uh…

she didn't harm anyone.

She prayed every day
for the salvation of sinners.

[Esteban] I don't understand
how she could live like this.

She lacked nothing to live comfortably.

But everything else was missing.

[slow instrumental music playing]

[Esteban grunts]

[spraying]

[Clara] Do you know who helps me
run the household?

Blanca.

I feel as if the light went out in her…

but she discovered
her talent for ceramics.

Jaime works at a public hospital,
and he'll be a doctor soon.

And you know what?
I like being a grandmother.

Albita is a star.

Her brilliance will help her
do things we can't even dream of.

She tells me that the hydrangeas
we planted back then

always bloom beautifully.

I never went back to Las Tres Marías.

Every time I see hydrangeas,
I think of you.

[voice breaking] I think of you
always, Ferula.

Since the day you went away,
nobody has ever loved me as much.

[crying]

We'll be together soon.

[indistinct chatter]

[Ferula] May you be cursed, Esteban!

-I hope your soul and body shrivel up.
-[speaking inaudibly]

May you meet your end alone and broken.

[man 1] Are you feeling well?

-[man 2] We're meeting at the club. Mm?
-Mm-hmm.

No, thank you.

My family is waiting at home.

[indistinct chatter in distance]

[birds chirping]

[indistinct chatter continues]

[Alba] Ferula's visit
had been for my grandmother.

A confirmation of her destiny,

although it was known only to her.

So she began in secret
to put her affairs in order

without any of us noticing.

What are you doing there?

I'm in my hideout.

Ah!

Your hideout is really nice.

Ah, I forgot you were still here, Mommy.

Look, I want to show you this.

Here.

In this beautiful, lovely trunk…

[chuckles] your mother loved playing
hide and seek with me when she was little.

And someday, it will be yours.

Pass me the diaries, my love?

Thanks.

What we have to do now
is climb onto the roof and leave it there.

Why, Grandma?

To make sure it's safe.

I have never received an order this large.

That's wonderful, Miss Blanca.

Pass me the paper, please.

It's very strange
they didn't give you a name.

I think it's best
if I deliver these pieces myself.

Sure, but aren't you
giving the class today?

I'll do it tomorrow.

Are you sure this is the address?

Yes, I am, Miss.

Here.

Thanks.

Excuse me. Which one's 1641?

That one over there.

[exhales]

[gasps]

Oh!

Is this a joke to you?

No, please, come in.

Go ahead.

Welcome.

[door closes]

Can I see them?

You still have to pay, you know.

You're an artist, Blanca.

What happened to you?

An accident. A stupid one.

You want tea? The water's ready.

[sighs]

You take it with honey, right?

Yes.

It's like talking to a ghost of some kind.

Are you still together with that count?

[inhales sharply]

I was told that my dad had m*rder*d you.
[sniffles]

It doesn't matter,
because too much time has passed,

and I'm no longer the woman I used to be.

[sobs softly]

Blanca, you're still the same person
to me.

You were dead, Pedro.

[breath trembling]

[intense music playing]

[breathing heavily]

[moans]

[Alba] From that day on,

my mom went out more often
to visit the Contreras family.

[gasps, grunts softly]

She said she was going to visit
some distant cousins.

[door closes]

And she would come back the next day
with a smile I've rarely ever seen.

[thudding]

[groaning]

Mom, what are you doing? It's really late.

I want to donate some things.

[sighs wearily]

Have you seen Pedro?

What a relief, sweetie.

You two deserve to be happy together.

[coughs]

But how?

It's not like we can turn back time.

You don't have to do that.
You move forward, honey.

Alba deserves it, too.

[inhales]

Think about it.

She must get to know her dad.

Let Pedro be a part
of her life in some way.

I almost forgot.

Here.

[chuckles softly]

Perhaps someday it'll be useful
for more than just dressing up.

Why give me these now?

Because they were never for me.

They'll give you some independence.

[coughing]

-[clears throat]
-Let me help.

Yes, thank you.

Will you take her to see Pedro?

[Blanca] Are they good?

-Give me one.
-No!

[gasps]

You're going to meet someone famous today.

Are you serious?

Do you remember the singer
we heard on the radio?

[Young Alba] Is that him?

Yes.

Alba, let me introduce you
to Pedro Garcia.

Hi.

-Are you my mom's boyfriend?
-[Tercero chuckles]

Alba!

What's wrong?

Nice to meet you, Miss Alba.

Do you play guitar with your fingers?

No.

With all seven.

[all laughing]

When there's something you love,
you should never quit.

Don't forget that.

[woman shouting indistinctly]

Mom, please, can I get one?

Pedro.

I…

Don't say anything.

Let's enjoy this moment.

All right?

[Alba] That was the first time
I saw a kiss of true love.

Because there weren't
people in love around me.

What I didn't understand back then

was that out of fear of my grandfather,

my mom had to keep
her relationship secret.

[birds chirping]

[captivating instrumental music playing]

[creaking]

[birds twittering]

[birds twittering]

[Jaime] Mom, what's wrong?

[rasping]

Mom, let me examine you, please.

[breathing heavily]

Please sit down.

[Clara] Mm.

Mm.

Try to breathe deeply through your mouth.

[wheezing]

Let's go to the hospital.

-You need oxygen.
-No. I don't want to go.

Mom, what are you saying?

That you would be able to heal
my body, son.

It's my soul that's ready to go.

Mom, let's go to the hospital.

Jamie,

my son,

promise me you'll take care of yourself
with the very same dedication

that you show to everyone else.

Life can get very hard if we don't--
don't open up and trust in others.

You can't do it alone.

Mm?

Are you saying goodbye now?

[exhales]

[grunts]

[slow instrumental music playing]

[Alba] My Uncle Jaime
tried explaining to us

that my grandmother was ready to die.

And that science could no
longer do anything about it.

I had never seen my grandfather
so devastated.

For the first time, his rage
couldn't distract him from his pain.

[Esteban] Here, it's soup.

[groaning]

It will happen soon.

[somber instrumental music playing]

[breathing heavily]

[Clara] We promised we wouldn't cry.

Easy for you to say when you're the one
cutting your journey short.

-[Clara chuckles]
-Visit us as soon as you're able, Clara.

And don't forget the details, please,
so you could tell us everything.

[Mora sisters chuckling]

[Alba] I can't say clearly
how much time passed.

The minutes seemed eternal,

but the days were far
too short to say goodbye.

And here comes my birthday girl.

Did I tell you the stars aligned
to bestow you with gifts?

Many times.

[coughs]

Death is not something to be afraid of.

It's no different than birth.

Besides…

if I can communicate
from the afterlife,

of course, I'm gonna come
visit my granddaughter.

But do you promise?

I promise you.

Ba, ba, ba.

[grunts]

It's Alba's birthday, a day to celebrate.

[guitar music playing]

[male singer singing in Spanish]

[Alba] My grandmother asked to be buried
next to her mother's head.

[coughs]

That's how I found out
what was inside the leather hatbox

-that I had used so many times…
-Come on.

…to build my hideouts.

[slow instrumental music playing]

[slow instrumental music continues]

[Alba] Many years later, I learned
that the man with a gentle gaze

was Pedro Segundo Garcia,

my paternal grandfather.

My mom fulfilled my grandmother's wish

to bring me closer to Pedro Tercero,

but for a long time,
she didn't dare tell me the whole truth.

[Alba] To keep her memory
as intact as possible,

my grandfather didn't want
anyone else to enter her room.

But he couldn't stop
my grandmother's death

from completely disrupting life
in the big house on the corner.

Alba,

come.

[Alba] With her passing, the spirits left.

The guests left.

And so did that radiant joy
that always accompanied us.

I wasn't able to live in the now
like the Mora sisters had taught me.

Because without her,
my present was tinted with sadness.

[doorbell ringing]

[door opens]

If you're looking for Donna Clara,
I'm afraid you're late, sir.

[man] No, no.

Is the patron here?

Senator Trueba.

And who are you?

A tenant from Las Tres Marías.

Come in.

You can follow me.

[Tencha] Just wait here, sir,

but please don't touch anything.

Hello.

Hello.

What's your name?

Esteban Garcia.

And yours?

My name is Alba Trueba.

Alba?

Yes.

Alba Trueba.

Remember that.

[chuckles]

Of course I will.

Alba Trueba.

[dark music playing]

What a lovely little dress you're wearing.

My grandfather gave it to me.

Yeah.

Obviously.

Of course, you spend summers
in Las Tres Marías, don't you?

[dark music continues]

[heart thumping]

The matters of my tenants are handled
by the estate's administrator.

Who are you?

Esteban Garcia.

Don't you remember me?

No.

What do you want?

I want to work for the police.

I thought you could help me
get into the academy.

I assisted you years ago.

You were looking for a man.

Ring a bell?

[dark music continues]

Alba.

Go play, honey.

I'll write you your recommendation letter.

Get in touch with Commander Hurtado.

Tell him I sent you.

Anything else?

[breathing heavily]

Grandma?

Are you here?

You promised you would be.

[Alba] I thought that would be
the last time I'd see Esteban Garcia.

[dark music playing]

But I couldn't guess in that moment
that that man would not stop

until he had me in his hands again.

[slow instrumental music playing]

[exhilarating instrumental music playing]