BASED ON A TRUE STORY
What are you doing, Javier?
I...
I can't sleep.
Hey, let me ask you something.
- Roughly, how much do you weigh? - What?
How much do you weigh? Around 130 pounds, right?
Last time I checked, 127 pounds.
- Who's all this for? - Hold this.
- You'll wake up your granddaughter. - You think you can...?
Could you carry this down the stairs without using the handles?
It's too early for this nonsense.
And up!
- From up here, to the bottom. Okay? - I guess I could drag it, yeah.
Don't use the handles, okay? Let's go.
Come on.
I don't get what you're trying to prove, but you're paying my doctor's bill.
I have to go to work.
- Now? - Yes, now.
- It's not even 6:00 a.m.! - I'll explain later, okay?
THE ASUNTA CASE
Who is it?
What are you doing here? Did something happen?
Is everything okay?
- Yes. - Really?
- Can I come in? - Sure.
- Do you have an appointment? What time? - 4:00 p.m.
Great. How's it going, Antonio? Brought churros, want some?
If you make coffee... These are warm. Want some?
- No, thanks. - No? Excuse me.
I wanted to run something by you, okay?
If you make coffee, that would be great.
Sure. Listen...
And sorry, Cristina. I just can't sleep, really.
Let's see.
So, Cristina, what do we know? That...
There are traces of lorazepam in her hair
from three months ago.
That's all summer, right? What happened on July 9th?
- It's Asunta's first episode. - That's it, her feeling dizzy.
Who was she with?
With Basterra. With her father, right? He's the one taking care of everything,
buying the medicine, looking after her, everything.
Yes.
Let's say that, for whatever reason, it doesn't matter,
that night, on July 9th,
Basterra wants to go out, wants some time for himself.
And he decides to drug her, but not in a premeditated way.
It just occurs to him, okay?
And Porto finds out and they have an argument.
But they don't go to the doctor because they'd find out what Basterra did.
They spent all summer together.
Rosario with a man who made her promise not to see her lover again.
That woman is stretched to a breaking point.
- Isn't she? - Yes, on the brink.
Right. The tension rises over that summer. Because, what do we know?
That Rosario starts contacting her lover again
and breaks her promise to Alfonso.
And on Friday, September 20th,
she meets him again and they spend the night together.
But Alfonso finds out.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2013
02:17:28 P.M.
VICENTE I LOVED SEEING YOU AGAIN
TWO MONTHS WITHOUT YOU WAS TOO LONG
Coming.
Asunta, Mom's here.
Look how pretty she is.
- How was the exhibition in Vigo? - It was great.
I can imagine.
You love museums, you must have had a blast.
Yes.
- Hi. - How's it going?
- What's for lunch? - Scrambled eggs and mushrooms.
- Oh. - What do you mean "oh"?
I don't feel like eating mushrooms, really.
How about a game of Continental?
You eat what's served.
And we can play cards later. You know we don't play cards at the table.
Do as your father says. We can play Escoba later.
But we need to head home. You've got homework to do.
A seven here, coins... Wow.
This kid sure reminds me of someone, there's no way of beating her at Escoba!
Or is she cheating?
You wish. I'm just smarter.
Oh, sure. Smarter.
Let's go.
You head home, Asunta, Mom will catch up.
We have stuff to talk about.
- Okay. - Let's go.
What's the matter?
You're a liar.
- What? - You've lied to us again.
You lied to me again.
Where were you yesterday?
In Vigo, I told you.
Listen, I know you weren't in Vigo. What exhibition was it? Tell me about it.
I was in Vigo.
One thing.
I just asked one thing from you
in exchange for devoting my life to you.
That you stayed away from that bastard.
And you broke your promise. You broke it.
- What promise? - You betrayed me!
- What promise, Alfonso? - Yes.
You and I are separated.
What promise?
You know what I'm talking about, okay?
Please, give me the keys. Asunta is on her own.
Since when do you care about that? Was she not on her own yesterday?!
- Give me the keys, please. - You wanna see that guy again tonight?
Forget it. You're looking after your daughter, got it?
- Give me the keys. - What the fuck is wrong with you?
- Give me the keys. - Asunta is our daughter.
Mine too. And she forever binds us!
You'll never get rid of me.
Never.
- You want the keys now? - Yes.
Here are your damn keys!
I can't find them. I don't know where the keys are.
I can't find them.
Help me, Alfonso. Where are the keys?
I can't find them.
You're a liar.
Who will take better care of you than us? Asunta and I are your family.
There's no room for anyone else. You betrayed us!
You're a liar. You adulteress. Did he touch "every inch of you"?
Right under my fucking nose! Answer me! You're an adulteress!
In my fucking house. While you fuck around!
Asunta is our daughter, and she forever binds us.
How you both laughed about me? While you fuck around!
You betrayed us. Answer me! Adulteress.
Come here, dammit! Adulteress.
Never. You're a liar.
She forever binds us. You're an adulteress! Answer me!
Mom?
- Yes? - Okay.
Mom.
I'm thirsty. Can you get me something to drink?
Asunta.
Thanks.
I feel dizzy, Mom.
Dizzy?
Yes, I think the food made me sick.
Come with me to the country house.
- To Montouto? - Yes.
I'd rather stay home, Mom.
Or with Dad.
I haven't finished my homework yet.
I'm just feeling dizzy.
All the more reason.
Mom will be with you, taking care of you.
Okay.
Okay. Coming.
Grab your jacket. Mom will grab a bag.
I'm tired. I'm going upstairs.
Hi, Charo! How are you? Haven't seen you in a while.
- Yes! We've been so busy lately. - How's Asunta? She must be so grown up.
She's great. Stayed home doing her homework.
I'm in a hurry, Juancho. Sorry.
Don't worry about it. Be careful on the road,
everyone's driving crazy during the festivities.
Yes.
Charo, your lights!
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake...
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep...
MISSED CALL - ALFONSO 7 MISSED CALLS - ALFONSO
- Charo. - Alfonso.
- The girl. - What's wrong with the girl?
Come.
- Please, come. - Charo, what's wrong?
Come.
Charo.
Charo?
Asunta?
Charo!
Charo.
Charo, open the door, please.
Charo, where is she? Charo, what's wrong?!
You're scaring me, open the door!
What happened?
What's the matter?
Calm down. What is it? Where is she?
I did what you used to do.
Where is she?
Alfonso, she's gone.
- She's gone? Where is she? - I went too far.
Where? Where is she?
I gave her pills, Alfonso.
I gave her pills and...
I went too far.
Where did you leave her? Where is she?
I'm so sorry.
Forgive me.
She's gone.
- Gone, where? Where did she go? - She's gone.
No, we have to go to the police.
No! Please!
- What? - Please.
Where is she?
I left her near...
Near Teo.
- Close to... - We have to go get her!
- No! Please! - We have to go to the police!
- Not the police! - What?!
- Not the police! - What have you done?
- I could tell them many things! - What are you...?
- The police. - What are you saying?
Where...? How's the girl?
I went too far.
She fell asleep.
Forgive me.
- What have you done? - I'm sorry.
Where is she?!
What have you done?
Alfonso.
Then why didn't Alfonso say anything?
Afraid of the gossip.
How could he admit to drugging his daughter, right?
It's much worse to be put in prison for murder.
How would people look at him in the street if he admitted to drugging her
so he could go out drinking, or to brothels, or worse?
Appearances are everything to these people.
I don't know. If you have another theory, I'm all ears.
The judge won't be amused, you'll see.
You're dealing with him.
Well, I brought churros.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, the great pianist Asunta Basterra!
- And the best... - What are you doing? Easy.
- Smile for the camera. - Okay, I'm smiling.
And what will you be performing today?
Come on, we're leaving.
Is this a new one?
- Still with that? - Yes. I have to finish it.
Do you mind going ahead?
Try to get there before dessert, okay?
Yes, promise.
Come on, we're off.
Got your jacket? Yes.
Give me a kiss.
See you later.
JJ, it's me.
Look, I'm going over what we have
and there are some things I'm not so sure about.
I mean that I don't know if it makes sense to have a joint defense.
There's no solid evidence against Alfonso.
Not as solid as there is against Rosario, anyway.
Yes.
Nice place.
The ocean breeze helps clear my mind.
Did you think about what I said?
Do you remember what you were doing
when you found out about the girl's death?
Having lunch at my mother-in-law's.
I was at Casa Donato, in front of a plate of scallops.
They had the news on the TV.
And I confess that from that moment, don't ask me why,
I had the feeling they were innocent.
Both of them?
Yes. So far, most of the evidence incriminates them.
But I still believe they didn't kill her.
Come on, Elena,
what substantial reasons do we have to think she's lying?
It's not about that.
During the investigation, Rosario said she didn't remember where she left her.
I talked to her psychiatrist.
And he says it's not uncommon for a person in distressing situations
to suffer mental blocks like that.
And Rosario was medicated.
Fine. But if that were the case,
some camera would've filmed Asunta in the street before she got home.
Assuming she made it.
You know perfectly well it's not about that,
but about convincing the jury that they are actually telling the truth.
And Rosario's situation isn't the same as Alfonso's.
So, if you want to go ahead with the joint defense,
we need a unified and absolving narrative, which we don't have.
What we need is to highlight
the irregularities in the clearly biased investigation.
And, of course, all the contradictions and inconsistencies
in the version of the story presented by the prosecution.
All the gaps that still remain unanswered.
- Your Honor. - We wanted to discuss something with you.
What's that?
To me, that sounds like you're gonna make my life more difficult.
It won't take long.
We brought churros. I'm afraid they're already cold.
JUDGE
Oh, Ríos, you need to sleep more and think less.
Your Honor, we have no proof, nothing at all,
that Alfonso was in the country house, or that he left home that evening.
Does that mean he wasn't at Montouto?
With all due respect...
I mean, the alarm was reconnected at 8:53 p.m., right?
And Alfonso's phone connected to the Santiago antenna at 8:47 p.m.
That's six minutes before!
If, as you say, he was in the country house,
how did he get to Santiago?
- We didn't see his car on any camera. - Not one.
Look,
it's clear that they were both in on it.
The cameras didn't capture Alfonso, okay.
But he could have been lying down in the back seat.
- But we don't know that! - Give me that.
What we do know is that it's impossible to drug the kid
for three months without both of them knowing.
Or are you telling me otherwise?
Do you really believe a father
wouldn't notice his daughter acting like a zombie for so long?
Anyway, what the hell?
The kid was aware they were giving her white powder
that made her sleepy all weekend.
Who knows what else she knew.
Killed her grandparents for inheritance or abused her, perhaps.
The parents discovered the girl was going to tell
and decided to kill her.
That's all there is to it. Don't look any further.
Basterra and Porto knew they had to get rid of the kid
because she could talk any time.
She knows.
She asked me the other day, and I dodged the question.
But she won't let it go.
You know her.
Did you read her blog?
Read it and you'll see.
So, what do we do?
If she talks, we're finished, Charo.
I can't think of any other solution.
But that's crazy.
If you prefer to look the other way, as always, go ahead.
I can't.
Would you rather be the mother of a missing child
or end up in jail for something we could've avoided?
You wouldn't survive in jail.
Did you consider what I said?
Okay.
We've given her 12 happy years.
Better than the life she would've had in that horrible orphanage.
Mom will catch up. We have stuff to talk about.
Don't worry.
Like Sophocles said,
"To him who is in fear everything rustles."
{an8}BARTLEBY, THE SCRIVENER
FLIGHT MODE
{an8}ACTIVATE FLIGHT MODE
{an8}ENABLE
Go get the car and wait for us downstairs, double-parked. Let's go.
Let's go.
May I?
Yes.
Mom needs to go to Montouto to pick up some swimsuits.
I thought we could go with her, so she doesn't go alone.
But I have to finish my homework.
Well, it's Saturday.
You spent all summer running around, we barely spent time together.
I need to charge my phone.
You can use it when we come back.
It's just to get some fresh air, you know?
I have to hand it in on Monday.
Come on, you have all day tomorrow to finish it.
Let's go.
Come on. Up.
Asunta, wanna sit in the front?
- Yes, can I? - Of course.
Seatbelt on.
We're doing this together. Don't forget that.
You're not alone.
Come.
- I just can't. - We have to.
We have to. Let's go.
What do we do now?
Wait for it to get dark.
I'll return to Santiago and activate my phone.
Give me at least an hour, no less.
After that time, reconnect the alarm.
- Wouldn't it be better to...? - Everything will be fine.
Drive calmly and leave her where we agreed.
I have to go back.
- Remember, one hour. - Yes.
Calm down, woman. Calm down.
Call me when you arrive. I'll be waiting. Okay?
Open the door for me.
FLIGHT MODE
Everything okay?
There was a Civil Guard checkpoint.
I had to take a detour.
I left her where I could. I had no other choice.
It's okay, darling. Everything will be okay.
What have we done, Alfonso? What have we done?
What is best for everyone.
We're still here, that's what matters.
What do you mean?
- Adversity brings us closer, Rosario. - What?
- We'll come out of this closer than ever. - What?
- You and me. - What?
I won't let you go through this alone.
Remember to call her friends.
So there's evidence.
I love you so much, darling.
So, according to that, Alfonso is behind the whole thing.
Rosario needed help to buy groceries. She couldn't do anything on her own.
Of course he's behind the whole thing.
Look, Your Honor, with all due respect,
how is Alfonso supposed to walk down from Montouto?
Well, with all due respect,
using his feet.
And no one saw him?
Do you remember all the people you don't know that you saw this morning?
Look at me and tell me he doesn't deserve to be in prison.
All we're saying is we don't have a single piece of evidence, Your Honor,
not one,
that Alfonso was in Montouto or on the street that evening.
We just don't.
No matter how much you insist, there's no way to support that.
Come.
- A woman and a girl, I don't know... - Come in.
Tell them who they are.
It's one of Asunta's classmates from French class, and her mother.
Tell them.
The girl says she saw her walking with her father
on the afternoon of September 21st, minutes before she was taken to Montouto.
Very well. Notify Belategui.
You wanted evidence?
Why are you coming forward now, two and a half months after the murder?
To be honest, with all the fuss on TV and everything,
I didn't want her to get involved in that.
I thought someone must have seen Alfonso with Asunta.
But, seeing as no one was saying anything, I felt it was our duty.
Well, I want you to know you've done the right thing by coming.
So, tell me, Laura...
are you sure it was that same day, September 21st?
Yes.
And that the people you saw were Asunta and Alfonso Basterra?
- Sure? - Very.
Asunta was in my French class.
She was younger than me but we were in the same class.
And I'd seen her father on other occasions.
That day, I went shopping with my boyfriend, and saw them
at General Pardiñas and República del Salvador streets.
Very well.
Listen, Laura,
are you totally sure that you're not mistaken about the day?
It's been a long time.
Yes, but, the next day,
when I found out Asunta had been found dead,
I told my boyfriend and my mom.
It was that day. Alfonso left his house.
Would you be willing to officially testify to this?
Bear in mind it might be tougher.
I don't mind. I know what I saw.
Very well.
Based on a true story.
Parts are fictionalized for privacy and narrative pace.
Subtitle translation by: Felipe M.