THIS PROGRAM CONTAINS SCENES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
As the months went by,
it became clear that the military had seized power to keep it
and not hand the government to the right-wing politicians
who had led the coup.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
- How can I help you? - Good morning.
Sorry to arrive unannounced, but no one can know I am here.
Dr. del Valle saved my mother's life.
I will be eternally grateful to him.
That's why I risked coming.
Your family deserves to know the truth of what happened.
I didn't know he was your son, Senator.
Get to the point, soldier. Tell us what you know.
Of course.
Before the bombardment at the Government Palace,
President Acevedo gave his collaborators the chance to leave,
but the doctor preferred to stand by him.
Get off, for fuck's sake. Get off!
Shut up! Move it!
When military forces entered the Palace,
I recognized him among the survivors.
- Forward! - Move it!
This is all I was able to rescue from Dr. del Valle.
Dr. Trueba.
My son had no business being at the Government Palace
on the day of the military uprising.
Father...
Do you think I'm stupid?
That doesn't prove that my son is dead. Jaime is alive!
Dad.
Get out of this house immediately.
Forgive him.
Get out!
Good afternoon.
Thank you.
It took weeks for my grandfather to believe that soldier's story,
because it was difficult for him to accept responsibility for his son's murder.
Only then did he remember that Luisa Mora had foretold times of horror,
not knowing that this was only the beginning.
THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS
Dad?
Did you spend the night here?
The military is a different breed.
They didn't care that he was my son.
It hurt us all to have lost him like that.
But now, we need each other more than ever.
Dad, look at me.
You're going to have to help me.
Come with me.
Up until that moment, my grandfather had not been able to visit
the part of the house his beloved Clara had built in the time of the spirits.
And he couldn't help but think of all that was lost
because he couldn't control his anger and his pride.
I came to get you out of here.
Why?
Because my daughter asked me to.
Go to hell.
Well...
that's where we're all going.
The three of you have to leave.
Don't say anything. Leave everything to me.
Don't worry.
Documents.
Documents, please.
We have an audience with Nuncio. I am Senator Esteban Trueba.
The ambassador of Sweden, my daughter and granddaughter.
Documents, please.
Open the trunk.
Let them through.
Alba, help me.
Are you all right?
Yes.
Our car is coming and we're going straight to the airport.
- The three of them, right? - Yes, my daughter, my granddaughter and...
my son-in-law.
Nuncio,
thank you very much. I owe you my life.
Believe me, I would like to do a lot more.
Daughter.
Dad?
I was never a good father to you.
I love you very much, Dad.
The car has arrived.
Go.
I'm staying.
What?
No. What are you talking about? You're coming with us.
I can't.
I'm staying with Grandpa.
Daughter,
you don't have to prove anything to anyone.
- We can't delay. - Go.
I want you to be happy,
to give yourselves a chance.
Come on.
- No, Alba. - It's time.
- Please. - You can't do this.
You go now.
Come on.
You're coming as soon as possible, okay?
I had to stay.
And not only for Grandpa,
but also for Miguel,
and all those who were still out there,
living in the shadows, hiding from the horror that haunted us,
while half the country turned a blind eye.
- Get in the vehicle! - No!
Move!
- Why? - Move!
No, please!
I didn't have time to regret my parents' departure.
And I saved the pain I still felt about the death of my Uncle Jaime
to suffer later,
because I was compelled to join those who were helping the persecuted.
Finding my uncle's car was essential to my new task.
The first thing was to seek asylum for those in danger of death.
Is Aunt Maruja well?
She sends her regards.
Someone will be waiting for you behind the embassy wall.
Don't hesitate.
Don't look anywhere.
- Is that understood? - Yes.
Are you fond of chess?
My uncle was.
I'll help you jump, but it has to be fast.
Yes.
Don't worry.
I don't know how many we managed to get out of the country,
but it was a tiny number considering the magnitude of this tragedy.
- Eagle. - Wagon.
Captain.
It's me.
Come on.
It looks horrible on you.
There's no pleasing you.
What you're doing is no longer safe.
I can take care of myself, Miguel.
Don't you trust me?
- Is it because I'm a woman? - No.
I just don't want anything to happen to you.
My uncle was killed more than three months ago.
Lists of missing persons are still coming in.
I can't sit around waiting for you.
Come here.
Raquel, what's going on?
- Who are you? - Where is Alba Trueba?
You can't come in! Get out!
Search everything. Notebooks, address books.
- You can't! - How dare you barge into my house?
I'm Senator Esteban Trueba.
And I'm a personal friend of General Gustavo!
As long as I do not authorize it, you have no right to open your mouth.
You don't know who you're messing with, asshole.
Come on, search the house!
- Where is Alba? - I don't know.
MARX AND MARXISM ANDRÉ PIETTRE
RESISTANCE OF MATERIALS ANDRÉ DELACHET
Imbecile. Put the gun down.
What the hell is this place?
Go over there.
We better find your granddaughter, or you're going to pay.
I'll send everyone to jail. Especially you.
Grandpa!
No, please don't do anything to him!
I'm the one you're looking for.
Sign here.
It says we came in with a court order, that everything is in order.
How can you think I would sign that?
No, Alba!
- Okay. - Come on.
Everything will be all right.
- Don't worry, Grandpa! - Alba!
It's signed. Senator Trueba's granddaughter.
What an honor to have you here,
Alba Trueba.
Would you like some coffee?
I mean,
you're not used to this cheap powder, but the guys love it.
See?
Look,
this can be very fast,
but it's going to be up to you.
I just want you to tell me where your lover is.
Where is Miguel Espinoza?
I need the bathroom.
The child has a voice.
So you speak?
If you don't cooperate,
my colleague is going to have to do his job.
Understand?
I need the bathroom.
As you wish.
Stop!
What did I say?
Look at what they did.
Listen to me.
I want to help you.
Excuse me, General.
Esteban.
- You are dismissed. - Yes, General!
Esteban.
How nice to see you.
Come in.
Sit down.
My family has been very affected by this government,
and I've called many times for your help.
You know very well how busy we are
cleaning up the mess these people left behind.
I need you to intercede immediately for the release of my granddaughter.
Don't be confused.
She was taken out of my house illegally.
- Are you sure? - Yes.
Absolutely.
Could she have left on her own?
There are so many people holding on like rats.
I'm not going to explain it to you. You know better than I do.
But you should be happy.
Your plan worked.
We have a secret police like you and the gringos suggested.
Kidnapping innocent civilians was never part of the plan.
If your granddaughter is innocent, nothing will happen to her.
What the hell are you talking about?
That the Army knows what's best for the country.
I tried to count the days I was held...
Grandma.
...but exhaustion and fear disrupted my sense of time
and distorted space.
Get up, damn it.
Now! Let's go!
Hurry up!
I told you to bring her ready.
Things have to be repeated a hundred times to you!
No!
Tie her up.
No, no, no.
No!
When you're ready to speak, raise a finger.
Alba,
I've waited patiently for two weeks.
Do you want to extend your stay here?
Where is Miguel Espinoza?
- Hello? - Dad?
What happened? Are you okay?
I thought you were someone else.
How's Alba?
I'd like to speak to her.
She's not here, dear.
What?
Dad, what's going on?
She hasn't returned my calls in two weeks.
You know how she is. Don't worry.
She's going about her business and I don't want to get involved.
I don't want to know what she's up to.
Dad, it's just...
It's so much worse than we thought.
We're getting terrible news every day. Lots of people are disappearing.
They are imprisoning anyone they think is suspicious and...
I don't want anything bad to happen to her like Jaime.
Please convince her, and both of you come here.
Pedro and I need to have her here, with us, safe.
Mom.
Water.
You can't drink water yet.
You could have seizures and die.
The last person I expected to find here...
was you,
Countess.
I don't know how long I've been here,
but I think it's been about two weeks.
They have my partner, Andrés,
because I've seen him when they take me to the bathroom.
I don't know anything about Miguel.
Look.
I'm five months pregnant.
And it gives me strength.
Rest.
You're going to be okay.
You'll feel better tomorrow.
Alba Trueba!
- Let go of her! - Don't take her!
- She's weak! - Let go of her!
- Okay! Get up! - Alba!
Get up!
- No, please. - Let go, damn it!
Get off!
- Let go, damn it! - Hold on!
Give her an injection. I want her more awake.
I admit that I underestimated you.
I thought you were going to break a lot sooner.
That's where you and I are alike.
You put up with being trampled on,
being treated like a dog.
You are just realizing that now.
But me...
I was born into this shit.
I know what it's like to live with the feeling of being marked...
dirty.
And if it hadn't been for my grandmother, I wouldn't be here today.
Why do you have me here...
Captain García?
Hi.
I knew you wouldn't forget about me.
I knew it.
Why me?
What did I do?
You, nothing.
My grandfather will get me out of here.
Do you like it?
I'm sorry, but Grandpa can't do anything for you or me.
I would have loved for you to meet my grandmother.
A woman as strong as you.
Clara, wherever you are,
please, will you help me find Alba?
I'm asking you, please.
Mr. Esteban.
I was looking for you all over the house.
I didn't expect you to be here.
Here.
This came for you.
- Did you see who brought it? - No.
Someone left it at the gate.
Thank you.
So you don't miss your granddaughter
Take her to the kennel.
At your command.
No! Get me out of here!
No! Help!
Get me out of here!
Time in the kennel became eternal.
And I only thought of dying.
Hey.
Water.
Kill me.
Alba.
Grandma?
I can't do it anymore.
You have a lot to do.
So stop feeling sorry for yourself.
There are many who do not want to see
what they're doing to you and so many others.
It's important to tell the whole story.
Start writing it down.
That will help you.
Grandma?
Take it easy.
I didn't come to do anything to you.
What the hell are you doing in my house?
We have a common goal.
To rescue Alba.
Do you know where she is?
Do you know each other?
She got into all this because of you.
If you want someone to blame, you're at the top of the list, Senator.
Alba is independent.
Don't speak like I don't know my granddaughter!
I didn't come here to fight.
I came here because an old friend of yours can help us save her.
My people have infiltrated everywhere and we know the politicians' secrets.
And now, those of the military, too.
Is the gentleman traveling alone?
Of course I'm alone.
Which room would you like? The Arabian Nights? The stable?
I want to talk to Tránsito Soto.
I'm sorry, she doesn't see individuals, only suppliers.
She knows perfectly well who I am.
I'm Senator Esteban Trueba.
- And if I don't talk to her... - What?
What are you going to do, Senator?
Step into my office.
You look impeccable.
It's just that I did very well, boss.
Do you remember when I told you that one day I was going to be rich?
Do you remember?
I'm glad you made it.
See? I was right.
The cooperative of whores and queers did amazing for ten years.
After that, I had to change careers
because no one needs prostitutes anymore,
except for sailors and old men.
Now, good girls go to bed for free. Can you believe that?
Imagine the competition.
But sit down.
What do you think?
The Cristobal Colon turned into a cave of lost souls and secret lovers.
And, well,
after the coup, the military police raided the hotel a couple of times.
But when they took the couples out of bed,
they found more than one general among the clients.
So they stopped bothering me.
That's why I have a very good relationship with the new government.
I suppose you came to collect the favor that I owed you for...
Fifty years.
Alba.
My granddaughter.
I beg you to help me find her.
Before it's too late.
I'll see what I can do.
Don't worry.
We're here, my friend.
I'm putting a clean bandage on, all right?
You're not alone. We're here. We're taking care of you.
It's over.
They took it out of me.
Someday, we'll have revenge.
We can't give up, do you hear me?
No.
Hey.
Don't let them hear you cry or break down.
We've all been through the same thing here.
While I was there with them,
I knew the days of Captain García and all those like him were numbered,
because they could never destroy the spirit of these
and so many other women.
Alba Trueba!
Everyone, look at the wall!
Get out of there.
Get up!
Careful.
Alba! Where are you taking her?
Where are you taking her?
And even though my voice changes
I think the same, deep inside
It is convenient to disappear
I know what my shout will say
Hold on, Alba!
We are more
Alba!
We are more
Not long now.
Okay. We're getting out.
Calm down, damn it.
Now, jump.
Special treatment for being the Senator's granddaughter.
Come on. Hurry up, man.
Alba.
Forgive me.
Sons of bitches.
I set up your grandmother's room.
So you can feel close to her.
I don't know how long it took me to read my grandmother's diaries.
At first, I was distracted from my pain,
and I started to feel like I was putting together a big puzzle...
in which each of the pieces had a precise location,
and neither would exist without the other.
Before placing them all, it seemed incomprehensible.
But I knew that if I could finish it, I could make sense of each one.
now my husband raping husband
What I never imagined was
that the crucial pieces to understanding the overturning of my destiny
had to do with my grandfather's actions.
Alba, my love, please, open up.
Child, I know you don't want to talk, but your mother is calling.
I don't know what excuse to give her.
- Let me in. - No!
No!
Don't ever play that music again.
My child.
Pancha García.
What's wrong?
Who was Pancha García?
She was a tenant at Las Tres Marías.
And what else?
What do I know? She worked just like the rest of them.
I don't know. I don't understand, dear.
You raped her.
Pancha had a son.
His name was Esteban.
He was your son.
And then you had a grandson.
His name is also Esteban.
Captain García, remember him?
You helped him become a policeman.
Your grandson avenged his grandmother.
Alba! Alba, my love, are you all right?
Everything is starting to make sense to me now.
What are you talking about?
Why did you keep so many things from me?
Forgive me. I'd love to turn back time.
It wasn't your fault, Mom.
I'm so sorry.
Now I know everything that you had to go through.
Alba, sweetheart, what is it?
Your music keeps the spirit of so many comrades alive, Dad.
Take care of yourself.
The only thing I ask is that you take care of yourself.
Okay?
You once told me
that there's always a way to do what you want to do.
Now I know what I want.
I love you very much.
Death did not take long to reach my grandfather.
The curse of his sister, Férula, was fulfilled.
His body shrank along with his soul.
And though I was close, he died alone,
hoping to meet his beloved Clara.
My grandmother believed that destiny is drawn before we are born,
so I suspect that nothing that happened was accidental.
And that even Esteban García is part of that painting.
It is a crude and crooked stroke, but no brushstroke is useless.
The day my grandfather
raped his grandmother, Pancha García, on the side of the river,
he added another link in a chain of events that had to be fulfilled.
While I was in the kennel,
I wanted to see Captain García vanquished before me,
and avenge all those who had to be avenged.
But now, I want to think that my purpose in life,
and that my mission is not to prolong the hatred,
but only to fill these pages.
I already cleaned all the rooms on the top floor.
We are ready for visitors.
Thank you.
- Thank you, Raquel. - You're welcome.
Sometimes, I get the feeling that I've lived this before,
and that I've written these very same sentences.
But I understand that it's not me,
but another woman
and put into words those secrets that no one dared to name.
My grandma left me her life diaries so that many years later,
together with the dead and disappeared who reinhabited this house,
I would be able to reconstruct this story.
Our story.