Birds Flying East (2024) Movie Script
1
Full of aces and black.
Bravo!
Shut up, shit!
You've got to be an idiot!
What would you know about blacks?
Congratulations.
Look.
- What's up, Rosi?
- Hey.
Good stuff.
My colleague's harvest
is gone over the top.
If you take two,
it'll be half the price.
Have you been fleeced
by your mates?
Mates? Those fools? No.
No... You know what they say,
unlucky in the game, lucky in love.
That'll be the day, fuck that!
Have you seen Luisa lately?
- On Tuesday, at a birthday party.
- Whose birthday?
Juan's.
I'm going to drop a log.
Do you realise what time it is?
- Five minutes!
- One hour!
What? Are you out of your mind?
Five minutes!
Give me that. Come on, man!
- It's always the same with you.
- Speak for yourself!
An hour late... What the...
Hello, this is Luisa.
Please leave a message.
Hey! What the hell are you doing?
Are you OK?
Do...
Do you have a glass of water?
I haven't driven since a long while...
Thanks.
Are you going very far away?
To the Costa Brava.
From Valencia it's quite a long way...
Business trip?
No, I...
In fact I'm visiting some...
Some... some of those.
What the heck is that?
Pelicans?
No, those are cranes.
That's it!
Everything under control.
These cars are fucking great.
Are you leaving?
Go on.
What a weirdo...
What the fuck?
Don't take me wrong, but...
could you drive me there?
To Costa Brava?
No...
I'd pay you.
Hold on, Luisa, let me talk.
I had to go to casualties
because I fell ill.
Don't bullshit me.
It's true, dammit.
- I already bought him a present.
- I don't believe you.
Luisa...
The judge will call you
about the hearing.
Really?
Is it about the money I owe you?
No, I don't care about the money.
It's about everything,
about Juan, about me.
The boy is fine.
The boy is fine. We see each other
every once in a while.
What need is there
to make matters worse?
You don't even know
when his birthday is!
But of course I do!
Of course!
Please, we have to sign this
straight away.
I don't think I can...
Are you serious?
It's always the same with you.
The Russian owes me a few shifts.
The garage job is temporary.
Fact is I'm a musician...
but what with the crisis...
Are you only interested in...
in cranes...
or birds in general?
As a kid I had a parakeet.
My brother and I opened
the cage door.
It liked to walk on the carpet,
munching the crumbs and all that.
But one day,
while vacuum cleaning,
my mother sucked it in.
It survived, you know,
but it lost its feathers.
It was quite a sight, poor thing.
Could you...
do me a favour?
Could you please be quiet?
Sorry.
Tough cookie...
Please, Alberto, pay attention.
Listen, some of this belongs to me.
Even if only a small part.
You didn't even come
to the funeral, asshole!
Watch your words, Alberto.
Alright, you weren't around
when he was ill.
But once dead,
mate, for mum's sake at least.
I was tied up.
Of course... For the Fallas celebrations.
How long since you've last seen her?
Alberto...
Please, listen.
I'm going through rough times.
Don't laugh.
Luisa wants me to sign
the separation papers.
You want to know
how I'm gonna get there?
Totally stripped naked.
Like a baby, only 50 years old.
If I sign,
things are going to get worse.
The pension, the bills, child expenses...
Some things in life
have to be taken seriously.
I told you so once.
You should have thought,
before getting her pregnant, fool.
Alberto.
You are the fool.
Tudela asparagus! The best!
A gift from my brother Alberto.
We own this company.
It's a family business.
He's the manager.
Since we were near here
I stopped by.
Give me a sec.
A sec.
Asparagus are great...
Clearly road trips are not your thing.
I'm guessing you had an accident.
Shit, aren't those... Those...?
Those are not cranes.
They are flamingos.
There are ducks, there are geese...
and herons...
And yours are supposed to come flying?
No, with...
with the tramuntana wind.
I am sure they'll come tomorrow.
If you don't mind,
there is a hotel near here.
What the heck...
Compensation. Compensation.
Compensation. Compensation.
Comp...
Compensation.
Bloody hell of a word.
Compensation.
Everything's got twisted
at the lawyer's office...
Make amends, make up... for it.
What's unfair.
God almighty...
It's been a long time
since we last saw each other, right?
Such a long time.
Excuse me, may I help you?
No, no, thank you.
Just having a look.
I know the park very well but...
Thank you very much.
Excuse me.
I saw you at the shop before...
Are you looking for Olimpia?
You may not remember me
but we've met around here sometimes.
I started working here
just before you had the accident.
We've received the compensation sum.
It's taken us a while to get it.
Well, yes.
It's been 10 years...
She said you'd take care of it
because you are a lawyer.
We've got it at last.
Justice and...
- Is she around here?
- No.
She went back to Romania.
You have one message from
the 2nd of April of 2014
Hello, my love.
Did you enjoy my waltz?
The park is really quiet today.
Sunsets here at Costa Brava
are beautiful.
Guess what, we've managed to cure
that crane I told you about.
I miss you heaps, Mario.
A huge kiss from your dear Olimpia.
What's your name?
Elisabetta.
Shall we cheer this up a bit?
- Hello.
- Good morning. Juan Aguilar?
I'm calling from the lawyers' office
about the divorce procedure
with Luisa Blanes.
I want you to know
that a date has been fixed
for the hearing
with the Judge...
We meet on Friday at 12am. OK?
Please, don't forget the documentation.
Understood. Thanks.
I've scored, man!
It has been a long time.
And...
I...
I've got to keep travelling.
Three or four days at the most.
Hi!
Hi!
You must be the friend
of the birds, right?
Mario.
Where are you supposed to go?
They've changed their...
migration route.
Who?
The cranes.
They've gone Eastwards to nest.
I'm sorry...
Don't listen to him.
I also like birds.
And...
How farther East do you have to go?
To the Danube Delta.
In Constanta. It's in Romania.
Look, mate.
It's alright to drive 500 km
in one morning to see a bloody bird.
However, driving to the other side
of Europe is another kettle of fish.
Moreover, I've just been told
next Friday I have to be back in Valencia.
For some... meeting.
I'll pay good money.
What's good money?
- Is your friend tired?
- He's mad.
- Poor thing.
- Not poor thing.
I tell you, he's out of his mind!
Come with us.
You can keep me company.
He never talks, always sleeping.
I'm going with you
only till Turin.
And from Turin I'll take a train
to Bergamo, my city.
I've away for too long.
It's time for me to go back home.
- You speak good Italian.
- No.
- It's true.
- Yes?
I've good a good ear.
And music, you know.
Domenico Modugno, Lucio Dalla.
- Mina, Paolo Conte.
- Bravo.
Is Colombo your real name?
Don't you know who Colombo is?
Christopher Columbus?
The guy who discovered America?
No, no, no.
Spaniards and their colonization...
No, no. Lieutenant Colombo,
from the homicide squad.
- Lieutenant Colombo!
- Exactly.
So, lady,
you're on your way to Bergamo?
Don't answer, please.
Who's waiting for you there?
Your husband perhaps?
Not any more. Not him.
Alright, there's an ex-husband.
Welcome to the club.
Do you like the sea, Elisabetta?
Mario, think what the firm's
done for you...
You're being unfair.
We know you've made it off
with all that money.
The cops are on the know already.
Your personal issues
don't warrant this madness.
So stop being an idiot,
it's not your style.
If I am being an idiot
is because you taught me so!
Jesus... I learnt it from you!
- What are you doing?
- What do you mean?
We... We must keep moving on.
We must keep moving on.
Now.
Surely I've got the right
to rest!
No.
Sorry, we were desperate for a swim.
We... We...
Take it easy.
Come on, breathe.
I'm sorry. We must go.
- Are you upset?
- No, no, no.
Weren't you in a hurry?
It's getting late.
- Do you want to sit at the front?
- No, you sit at the front!
So we can chat
and you keep me company.
I thought it might be good
to spend the night around here.
I need a rest. I can't drive
quite so many hours in a row.
I don't think you'd rest much
if we stayed.
Perhaps I'm not being clear enough.
I need to fuck this woman one more time.
I've had a hell of a time recently.
Give me a couple of hours
and then we'll move on. Please.
Alright.
Here, all yours.
You pay me for the mileage we've done
and that's that. Here.
We agreed I would pay you
at the end.
That was the deal.
I don't give a damn about the deal!
Take them.
Here.
One... One hour.
I'll wait here.
One hour.
Hello, my dear.
Did you enjoy my waltz?
We've cured that crane
I told you about.
I miss you heaps, Mario.
Mario!
There he is. Hasn't moved a bit.
We're here! Almost there.
One hour.
We agreed one hour.
Mario, are you OK?
Sit down. Sit down.
Are you OK?
Feeling better?
- I'm hungry.
- Hungry?
Wait a second.
I'll be right back!
What's wrong with you?
Here. This is good for you.
That's it.
Good stuff, huh?
I found some pizza slices.
Tomato, ham and mushrooms.
Cheers!
Good, huh?
- That bitch, your sister...
- What?
- Your sister...
- A kiss! A kiss!
You're going to get so pissed...
You make it too complicated!
A kiss!
- In general...
- In general.
Let's go and get...
a gin and tonic!
- Hey, Mario.
- Gin and tonic.
Torino... all for us!
You too are a little bird.
A little wounded bird.
It isn't a crane
you're looking for, is it?
Her name is Olimpia.
Colombo.
He's smoked too much.
Do you have any more of that grass?
So give me some of that happy poison,
for I want to die happy here, in Italy.
See? No more stuttering
when he's stoned, the bastard.
Fucking idiot.
- Bloody stutterer!
- Please, Colombo, don't.
Your fucking mother
is driving you to Romania!
Your fucking mother
is driving you to Romania!
You can ram those birds up your arse.
I don't give a shit about your money.
You bloody stutterer.
I don't give a shit about your money.
Help me, Elisabetta.
They're sleeping pills.
Help me.
They're not for sleeping.
These are...
These are seasick pills.
To sleep off the hangover.
What's Bergamo like?
Bergamo is... small.
- Small? Just like you.
- Right.
- Is it nice?
- Beautiful. Just like me.
Just like you?
I love you with all my heart.
With all my heart, yes!
You sons of bitches!
I'm going to Bergamo with you.
No one's expecting me in Valencia.
And your son?
I'm not a good father.
I'm a major disaster.
I want to be with you, Elisabetta.
I want to go with you.
Fly away with you.
Your husband is no longer
an issue, is he?
My husband...
My husband died two years ago.
What?
After 20 years together.
Twenty years imprisoned by him.
It was like being in prison.
I was trapped.
And when he fell ill...
He was ill?
I looked after him...
till the very last day.
And then, I left, for my trip.
- Let me go with you.
- No, my love.
- Yes.
- No.
No. You've got to go with him.
You can't leave things half way.
You must go on and find the cranes.
Your friend isn't well.
Mario needs you.
He needs you.
Please.
Excuse me, please.
Sorry.
Mario, wake up.
Come on, let's go.
Is my stuff there?
Yes, yes.
My son doesn't want me to smoke.
What's... What's his name?
Juan.
It was his birthday last week
and I forgot.
I deserved the kick in the ass
that Luisa gave me.
She's met a successful guy,
an engineer, or something like that.
Hey, was the accident very serious?
Yes.
That's where the...
The...
The stammering came, right?
No.
Since... since I was a child.
Dammed!
I carry a lot of grass in my bag.
If they look in the trunk...
Eh, sorry?
Sorry, my Italian is no good.
I don't speak...
I only understand it a bit
from listening to music.
Domenico Modugno, Renato Carosone,
Mina, Paolo Conte.
Lu... Lu... Lu...
Lu... Luciano Pavarotti.
Yes. Not Pavarotti.
It doesn't matter.
I can't believe this.
The fucking screw on the number plate
is missing a nut.
It was hanging halfway off.
What a bitch.
Stay here.
Better leave Italy
by the backdoor, just in case.
Better, yeah.
With all the grass in there.
I'm...
going to make a phone call...
and then we can leave.
Done?
There are some pretty good back roads,
nice scenery.
And they're toll-free.
What more could you ask for?
Come on, youll miss your feed!
Wake up. Look.
Your cranes.
They are... storks.
Cranes fly in V-shape formation,
or in W.
There are some herons as well.
Have a look.
Herons fly with their neck tucked in
but storks stick it out.
The herons have joined in,
uninvited.
They take advantage of the currents,
the air flows from the wings.
So they can travel faster
and more securely.
Fucking herons...
We did the same.
My brother and I, as kids, with the bike
we used to hold onto the mudguards
of bus 32 on our way to high school
to see who stayed there the longest.
Pretty crazy stuff!
Here.
My shout.
I came uninvited...
The cops know youve left Spain, Mario.
Theyve issued an arrest warrant.
I spoke with the hospital
and the outcome is no good.
I know it's hard to handle
but given the situation
we are willing to withdraw the charges.
Sorry, sir.
Salamalecum.
Salamalecum, sir.
Sir, please, help me, sir.
We are going to Germany.
- We have nothing.
- We are hungry.
We have kids. Please, sir.
- Who are these people?
- Please, sir, we are hungry.
They are going to Germany.
We are hungry.
Wait a sec.
Food!
Food for everybody.
Asparagus!
From Tudela!
Top notch stuff!
From my fucking brother!
They're better with mayonnaise but...
Slovenian, no. Italian, yes.
Sorry, the screw...
Cannabis.
Hey, but...
We're gonna have to renegotiate
my fees.
I'm screwed now.
Hi, it's Luisa.
Please leave a message.
Hi, Luisa, it's me.
I guess the boy is at school
and that you are at work.
The lawyer told me about Friday.
We need talk about that.
We must talk because I've got
an important job to do.
The good news is
that I'll be able to pay you.
I know you aren't in a hurry because
your boyfriend can cover expenses,
but personally I am in a hurry.
Let's see if we can find
a table to eat.
Where did the weird idea
about the birds come from?
My... my father.
I inherited it.
"Son", he said,
"birds do not belong anywhere".
"They come and go".
I like them.
Lucky you.
My father had no hobbies
other than fuck my life up.
Look.
- They're all wearing...
- Kippah.
- Huh?
- Kippah.
Did you hear the joke
about these two guys?
One guy says to the other:
"I've just had my phymosis operation."
The other guy asks:
"Did your rabbi do it?
The first guy says:
"Hell, I don't know. Ask my dick!".
Bad joke...
And to think
we don't have any grass!
No...
It's a miracle.
Makes me speak fast!
My wife.
Luisa! How are you?
Huh?
I'm fine. Why?
I've just got a job.
Go on, Colombo, no bullshit.
Driving.
Right now I'm in Hungary.
Sure, and I'm in Lapland.
Fuck, yes, I'm in Hungary.
Colombo, listen.
I'll let you talk to someone.
Listen to me! It's important! Shit!
Say something to my wife,
she doesn't believe I am in Hungary.
Parli con ella,
parli con la mia muller.
Speak with her.
Not in Italian. In Hungarian!
Keep going.
- So, did you understand anything?
- No.
Of course you didn't.
It was Hungarian!
Alright, Colombo, I expect you
to be in Valencia on Friday.
- I have my doubts.
- Are you really serious?
It's unbelievable!
It's not a boy scout meeting.
- The judge is expecting you, fuck!
- I bloody well know.
What do you want me to do?
I've got a job.
I'm driving this guy around,
he's not well.
He's fucked up, in fact.
Though he keeps it for himself.
- And do you know why?
- No.
These things are
a delicate issue, darling.
You can't understand...
but they are extremely delicate.
So you tell the judge if I can,
I'll be there. And if I can't, I can't!
Fuck!
Gabriel, there's a guy from Spain here.
Come on, hurry up! He's so slow...
We've got some grandsons in Spain.
In Pamplona.
Really sweet but... little devils!
- You are from Buenos Aires.
- Yes, Villa Crespo.
My mother was raised here,
in Hungary, in this town,
until she was taken away,
and later,
after the liberation,
she left for Argentina.
And so here I am now,
with my husband, closing the circle.
You speak Yiddish!
You speak Yiddish? That's great!
No, no, my grandfather spoke it...
How was it?
Mario, we must go.
Mario, please, listen.
I'm sick and tired from all this.
Let's go, please!
I can't stand this any more.
Mate, we haven't come all this way
to do some waltzing. Let's go!
Waltzing?
Shalom!
One thing is the EU
and that space is another thing, huh?
The European border space,
what do they call it?
- Schengen.
- That.
Romania is not Schengen, right?
We have to stop. That's a border.
What are you doing?
I'm very sorry.
There's an international
search warrant out for me.
Come on, step on it.
They're going to arrest us.
What the fuck are you doing?
Documentation.
Spanish.
- Spanish.
- From Spain.
Madrid.
Madrid.
- Yes.
- No.
No, Madrid, no.
Bara.
Sure. But I am all for Bara!
- No, Real Madrid.
- No, no.
- Bara?
- No, Bara, Bara.
I'm from Cornell,
next door to Barcelona.
Here, Madrid.
I had to register in Madrid
when I met Luisa, my wife.
She worked there.
She used to live in Madrid,
then she moved to Valencia.
Valencia, in Italy?
No, in Italy no. Spain.
- Italia, Valencia.
- No, no.
Well, I don't know but...
I mean Valencia, in Spain.
Fallas, paella, tiger nuts...
- Tiger nuts?
- Yes.
But who cares where we are from?
See those birds? They don't care...
They belong everywhere.
Cranes come and go...
- What?
- Espionage?
Espionage? Me?
Ah, no.
To see the birds!
For bird watching.
Keep going.
Keep going?
- Keep going. Spanish, huh?
- Yes.
Stop!
What?
Fora Bara!
- Get out of there!
- Calm down.
- Get out of there!
- Calm down, please.
Fuck off, calm down!
What the fuck is this?
What are you doing with this?
We're not in Switzerland!
What's this?
Answer me!
I lied to you.
I'm here to find the woman...
I've loved most in my life.
We were together
when we had the accident.
I... fell asleep.
She was badly injured...
And because of me
there was no compensation.
This money is hers.
I was scared...
I was so miserable...
I was married at that time.
And I'd never told her.
I'm such an asshole.
Where is the nearest airport?
Here.
Veliko, Yu-yu.
Bucharest.
I can't believe it.
Get on the car!
On the car!
My partners at the law firm
are a bunch of bastards.
I've spent years
covering up their tallies.
Ah, so in this case I feel relieved.
Come on.
This one for the marijuana
and the other one for my agreed fees.
Plus the airfare back to Valencia.
You won't have trouble finding
another driver with all the cash.
Bloody amazing!
I'll pick up a cab and piss off.
Fuck him.
- Taxi?
- Yes.
Fucking dizzy...
Are you okay? Are you okay?
The money. The money.
I thought they were for sleeping.
Only the red ones
are... for sleeping.
These ones are painkillers.
What's the name of the crane?
Olimpia.
Olimpia is not really
expecting you, is she?
When I got diagnosed,
I tried to make amends.
The injustice I provoked.
Give her all that money.
But things cannot be changed.
And... the harm I've done,
it stays forever.
I am a coward.
Cowardice.
That's my real illness.
No cure for it either.
Well, I tend to do things half-asses.
So, listen to me, Mario.
This is going to end.
What the fuck,
you didn't cross half of Europe
with an asshole next to you
just to right a wrong.
Am I wrong?
You don't fool me.
You want to see that crane.
Hi.
Have you a problem?
Yes...
One big problem.
Sorry...
My children.
In Ucrania.
War.
They are there.
They are there.
We are going to cross Bulgaria...
via Giurgiu.
Across Pont de l'Amiti,
on the Danube.
Friendship Bridge it is called.
- What do you call it in Spanish?
- Amistad.
- Puente de la Amistad.
- Amistad. Nice. Nice.
Tomorrow, Giurgiu, to Constanta.
200 km. Over the Danube.
My son Juan wants to be a musician.
And he's tall and bloody good-looking.
A relief he doesn't take after me.
Luisa says I abandoned the boy.
What the hell will a kid learn
from a fuck-up like me?
A fuck-up wouldn't have brought me
to the Danube.
This is for you.
Take your son to the lagoon...
to watch some birds...
as my father did.
Mario...
You go and see her.
- How was it?
- Very well.
She's very well...
and we've arranged to meet one day.
- Very well.
- I'm happy.
- Hello?
- How are you? It's Colombo.
Oh. Hello.
- Were you asleep?
- No.
- I'll get Luisa for you.
- No, no. Wait.
Just tell her I'll see her on Friday.
To sign the papers.
OK. I'll let her know.
Is Juan awake?
Yes, hold on.
- Hi, dad.
- Hello, son. How are you?
Mum told me you were in Hungary.
I checked the map on the computer.
Now I'm in Romania,
in the city of Constanta,
in front of the Black Sea.
I got here by boat,
cruising along the Danube.
A very long river,
one of the largest in Europe.
Make sure you aren't late for school.
Which course is he in?
Juan is in...
sixth grade.
- Here. Keep them. They are yours.
- They were mine.
- Now, they are yours.
- I've already kept some.
You'll need it.
I don't need it.
Come on. Really.
Take it.
I'll keep this, okay?
It's good for...
It's good for my... stuff.
For what's left of my trip.
Full of aces and black.
Bravo!
Shut up, shit!
You've got to be an idiot!
What would you know about blacks?
Congratulations.
Look.
- What's up, Rosi?
- Hey.
Good stuff.
My colleague's harvest
is gone over the top.
If you take two,
it'll be half the price.
Have you been fleeced
by your mates?
Mates? Those fools? No.
No... You know what they say,
unlucky in the game, lucky in love.
That'll be the day, fuck that!
Have you seen Luisa lately?
- On Tuesday, at a birthday party.
- Whose birthday?
Juan's.
I'm going to drop a log.
Do you realise what time it is?
- Five minutes!
- One hour!
What? Are you out of your mind?
Five minutes!
Give me that. Come on, man!
- It's always the same with you.
- Speak for yourself!
An hour late... What the...
Hello, this is Luisa.
Please leave a message.
Hey! What the hell are you doing?
Are you OK?
Do...
Do you have a glass of water?
I haven't driven since a long while...
Thanks.
Are you going very far away?
To the Costa Brava.
From Valencia it's quite a long way...
Business trip?
No, I...
In fact I'm visiting some...
Some... some of those.
What the heck is that?
Pelicans?
No, those are cranes.
That's it!
Everything under control.
These cars are fucking great.
Are you leaving?
Go on.
What a weirdo...
What the fuck?
Don't take me wrong, but...
could you drive me there?
To Costa Brava?
No...
I'd pay you.
Hold on, Luisa, let me talk.
I had to go to casualties
because I fell ill.
Don't bullshit me.
It's true, dammit.
- I already bought him a present.
- I don't believe you.
Luisa...
The judge will call you
about the hearing.
Really?
Is it about the money I owe you?
No, I don't care about the money.
It's about everything,
about Juan, about me.
The boy is fine.
The boy is fine. We see each other
every once in a while.
What need is there
to make matters worse?
You don't even know
when his birthday is!
But of course I do!
Of course!
Please, we have to sign this
straight away.
I don't think I can...
Are you serious?
It's always the same with you.
The Russian owes me a few shifts.
The garage job is temporary.
Fact is I'm a musician...
but what with the crisis...
Are you only interested in...
in cranes...
or birds in general?
As a kid I had a parakeet.
My brother and I opened
the cage door.
It liked to walk on the carpet,
munching the crumbs and all that.
But one day,
while vacuum cleaning,
my mother sucked it in.
It survived, you know,
but it lost its feathers.
It was quite a sight, poor thing.
Could you...
do me a favour?
Could you please be quiet?
Sorry.
Tough cookie...
Please, Alberto, pay attention.
Listen, some of this belongs to me.
Even if only a small part.
You didn't even come
to the funeral, asshole!
Watch your words, Alberto.
Alright, you weren't around
when he was ill.
But once dead,
mate, for mum's sake at least.
I was tied up.
Of course... For the Fallas celebrations.
How long since you've last seen her?
Alberto...
Please, listen.
I'm going through rough times.
Don't laugh.
Luisa wants me to sign
the separation papers.
You want to know
how I'm gonna get there?
Totally stripped naked.
Like a baby, only 50 years old.
If I sign,
things are going to get worse.
The pension, the bills, child expenses...
Some things in life
have to be taken seriously.
I told you so once.
You should have thought,
before getting her pregnant, fool.
Alberto.
You are the fool.
Tudela asparagus! The best!
A gift from my brother Alberto.
We own this company.
It's a family business.
He's the manager.
Since we were near here
I stopped by.
Give me a sec.
A sec.
Asparagus are great...
Clearly road trips are not your thing.
I'm guessing you had an accident.
Shit, aren't those... Those...?
Those are not cranes.
They are flamingos.
There are ducks, there are geese...
and herons...
And yours are supposed to come flying?
No, with...
with the tramuntana wind.
I am sure they'll come tomorrow.
If you don't mind,
there is a hotel near here.
What the heck...
Compensation. Compensation.
Compensation. Compensation.
Comp...
Compensation.
Bloody hell of a word.
Compensation.
Everything's got twisted
at the lawyer's office...
Make amends, make up... for it.
What's unfair.
God almighty...
It's been a long time
since we last saw each other, right?
Such a long time.
Excuse me, may I help you?
No, no, thank you.
Just having a look.
I know the park very well but...
Thank you very much.
Excuse me.
I saw you at the shop before...
Are you looking for Olimpia?
You may not remember me
but we've met around here sometimes.
I started working here
just before you had the accident.
We've received the compensation sum.
It's taken us a while to get it.
Well, yes.
It's been 10 years...
She said you'd take care of it
because you are a lawyer.
We've got it at last.
Justice and...
- Is she around here?
- No.
She went back to Romania.
You have one message from
the 2nd of April of 2014
Hello, my love.
Did you enjoy my waltz?
The park is really quiet today.
Sunsets here at Costa Brava
are beautiful.
Guess what, we've managed to cure
that crane I told you about.
I miss you heaps, Mario.
A huge kiss from your dear Olimpia.
What's your name?
Elisabetta.
Shall we cheer this up a bit?
- Hello.
- Good morning. Juan Aguilar?
I'm calling from the lawyers' office
about the divorce procedure
with Luisa Blanes.
I want you to know
that a date has been fixed
for the hearing
with the Judge...
We meet on Friday at 12am. OK?
Please, don't forget the documentation.
Understood. Thanks.
I've scored, man!
It has been a long time.
And...
I...
I've got to keep travelling.
Three or four days at the most.
Hi!
Hi!
You must be the friend
of the birds, right?
Mario.
Where are you supposed to go?
They've changed their...
migration route.
Who?
The cranes.
They've gone Eastwards to nest.
I'm sorry...
Don't listen to him.
I also like birds.
And...
How farther East do you have to go?
To the Danube Delta.
In Constanta. It's in Romania.
Look, mate.
It's alright to drive 500 km
in one morning to see a bloody bird.
However, driving to the other side
of Europe is another kettle of fish.
Moreover, I've just been told
next Friday I have to be back in Valencia.
For some... meeting.
I'll pay good money.
What's good money?
- Is your friend tired?
- He's mad.
- Poor thing.
- Not poor thing.
I tell you, he's out of his mind!
Come with us.
You can keep me company.
He never talks, always sleeping.
I'm going with you
only till Turin.
And from Turin I'll take a train
to Bergamo, my city.
I've away for too long.
It's time for me to go back home.
- You speak good Italian.
- No.
- It's true.
- Yes?
I've good a good ear.
And music, you know.
Domenico Modugno, Lucio Dalla.
- Mina, Paolo Conte.
- Bravo.
Is Colombo your real name?
Don't you know who Colombo is?
Christopher Columbus?
The guy who discovered America?
No, no, no.
Spaniards and their colonization...
No, no. Lieutenant Colombo,
from the homicide squad.
- Lieutenant Colombo!
- Exactly.
So, lady,
you're on your way to Bergamo?
Don't answer, please.
Who's waiting for you there?
Your husband perhaps?
Not any more. Not him.
Alright, there's an ex-husband.
Welcome to the club.
Do you like the sea, Elisabetta?
Mario, think what the firm's
done for you...
You're being unfair.
We know you've made it off
with all that money.
The cops are on the know already.
Your personal issues
don't warrant this madness.
So stop being an idiot,
it's not your style.
If I am being an idiot
is because you taught me so!
Jesus... I learnt it from you!
- What are you doing?
- What do you mean?
We... We must keep moving on.
We must keep moving on.
Now.
Surely I've got the right
to rest!
No.
Sorry, we were desperate for a swim.
We... We...
Take it easy.
Come on, breathe.
I'm sorry. We must go.
- Are you upset?
- No, no, no.
Weren't you in a hurry?
It's getting late.
- Do you want to sit at the front?
- No, you sit at the front!
So we can chat
and you keep me company.
I thought it might be good
to spend the night around here.
I need a rest. I can't drive
quite so many hours in a row.
I don't think you'd rest much
if we stayed.
Perhaps I'm not being clear enough.
I need to fuck this woman one more time.
I've had a hell of a time recently.
Give me a couple of hours
and then we'll move on. Please.
Alright.
Here, all yours.
You pay me for the mileage we've done
and that's that. Here.
We agreed I would pay you
at the end.
That was the deal.
I don't give a damn about the deal!
Take them.
Here.
One... One hour.
I'll wait here.
One hour.
Hello, my dear.
Did you enjoy my waltz?
We've cured that crane
I told you about.
I miss you heaps, Mario.
Mario!
There he is. Hasn't moved a bit.
We're here! Almost there.
One hour.
We agreed one hour.
Mario, are you OK?
Sit down. Sit down.
Are you OK?
Feeling better?
- I'm hungry.
- Hungry?
Wait a second.
I'll be right back!
What's wrong with you?
Here. This is good for you.
That's it.
Good stuff, huh?
I found some pizza slices.
Tomato, ham and mushrooms.
Cheers!
Good, huh?
- That bitch, your sister...
- What?
- Your sister...
- A kiss! A kiss!
You're going to get so pissed...
You make it too complicated!
A kiss!
- In general...
- In general.
Let's go and get...
a gin and tonic!
- Hey, Mario.
- Gin and tonic.
Torino... all for us!
You too are a little bird.
A little wounded bird.
It isn't a crane
you're looking for, is it?
Her name is Olimpia.
Colombo.
He's smoked too much.
Do you have any more of that grass?
So give me some of that happy poison,
for I want to die happy here, in Italy.
See? No more stuttering
when he's stoned, the bastard.
Fucking idiot.
- Bloody stutterer!
- Please, Colombo, don't.
Your fucking mother
is driving you to Romania!
Your fucking mother
is driving you to Romania!
You can ram those birds up your arse.
I don't give a shit about your money.
You bloody stutterer.
I don't give a shit about your money.
Help me, Elisabetta.
They're sleeping pills.
Help me.
They're not for sleeping.
These are...
These are seasick pills.
To sleep off the hangover.
What's Bergamo like?
Bergamo is... small.
- Small? Just like you.
- Right.
- Is it nice?
- Beautiful. Just like me.
Just like you?
I love you with all my heart.
With all my heart, yes!
You sons of bitches!
I'm going to Bergamo with you.
No one's expecting me in Valencia.
And your son?
I'm not a good father.
I'm a major disaster.
I want to be with you, Elisabetta.
I want to go with you.
Fly away with you.
Your husband is no longer
an issue, is he?
My husband...
My husband died two years ago.
What?
After 20 years together.
Twenty years imprisoned by him.
It was like being in prison.
I was trapped.
And when he fell ill...
He was ill?
I looked after him...
till the very last day.
And then, I left, for my trip.
- Let me go with you.
- No, my love.
- Yes.
- No.
No. You've got to go with him.
You can't leave things half way.
You must go on and find the cranes.
Your friend isn't well.
Mario needs you.
He needs you.
Please.
Excuse me, please.
Sorry.
Mario, wake up.
Come on, let's go.
Is my stuff there?
Yes, yes.
My son doesn't want me to smoke.
What's... What's his name?
Juan.
It was his birthday last week
and I forgot.
I deserved the kick in the ass
that Luisa gave me.
She's met a successful guy,
an engineer, or something like that.
Hey, was the accident very serious?
Yes.
That's where the...
The...
The stammering came, right?
No.
Since... since I was a child.
Dammed!
I carry a lot of grass in my bag.
If they look in the trunk...
Eh, sorry?
Sorry, my Italian is no good.
I don't speak...
I only understand it a bit
from listening to music.
Domenico Modugno, Renato Carosone,
Mina, Paolo Conte.
Lu... Lu... Lu...
Lu... Luciano Pavarotti.
Yes. Not Pavarotti.
It doesn't matter.
I can't believe this.
The fucking screw on the number plate
is missing a nut.
It was hanging halfway off.
What a bitch.
Stay here.
Better leave Italy
by the backdoor, just in case.
Better, yeah.
With all the grass in there.
I'm...
going to make a phone call...
and then we can leave.
Done?
There are some pretty good back roads,
nice scenery.
And they're toll-free.
What more could you ask for?
Come on, youll miss your feed!
Wake up. Look.
Your cranes.
They are... storks.
Cranes fly in V-shape formation,
or in W.
There are some herons as well.
Have a look.
Herons fly with their neck tucked in
but storks stick it out.
The herons have joined in,
uninvited.
They take advantage of the currents,
the air flows from the wings.
So they can travel faster
and more securely.
Fucking herons...
We did the same.
My brother and I, as kids, with the bike
we used to hold onto the mudguards
of bus 32 on our way to high school
to see who stayed there the longest.
Pretty crazy stuff!
Here.
My shout.
I came uninvited...
The cops know youve left Spain, Mario.
Theyve issued an arrest warrant.
I spoke with the hospital
and the outcome is no good.
I know it's hard to handle
but given the situation
we are willing to withdraw the charges.
Sorry, sir.
Salamalecum.
Salamalecum, sir.
Sir, please, help me, sir.
We are going to Germany.
- We have nothing.
- We are hungry.
We have kids. Please, sir.
- Who are these people?
- Please, sir, we are hungry.
They are going to Germany.
We are hungry.
Wait a sec.
Food!
Food for everybody.
Asparagus!
From Tudela!
Top notch stuff!
From my fucking brother!
They're better with mayonnaise but...
Slovenian, no. Italian, yes.
Sorry, the screw...
Cannabis.
Hey, but...
We're gonna have to renegotiate
my fees.
I'm screwed now.
Hi, it's Luisa.
Please leave a message.
Hi, Luisa, it's me.
I guess the boy is at school
and that you are at work.
The lawyer told me about Friday.
We need talk about that.
We must talk because I've got
an important job to do.
The good news is
that I'll be able to pay you.
I know you aren't in a hurry because
your boyfriend can cover expenses,
but personally I am in a hurry.
Let's see if we can find
a table to eat.
Where did the weird idea
about the birds come from?
My... my father.
I inherited it.
"Son", he said,
"birds do not belong anywhere".
"They come and go".
I like them.
Lucky you.
My father had no hobbies
other than fuck my life up.
Look.
- They're all wearing...
- Kippah.
- Huh?
- Kippah.
Did you hear the joke
about these two guys?
One guy says to the other:
"I've just had my phymosis operation."
The other guy asks:
"Did your rabbi do it?
The first guy says:
"Hell, I don't know. Ask my dick!".
Bad joke...
And to think
we don't have any grass!
No...
It's a miracle.
Makes me speak fast!
My wife.
Luisa! How are you?
Huh?
I'm fine. Why?
I've just got a job.
Go on, Colombo, no bullshit.
Driving.
Right now I'm in Hungary.
Sure, and I'm in Lapland.
Fuck, yes, I'm in Hungary.
Colombo, listen.
I'll let you talk to someone.
Listen to me! It's important! Shit!
Say something to my wife,
she doesn't believe I am in Hungary.
Parli con ella,
parli con la mia muller.
Speak with her.
Not in Italian. In Hungarian!
Keep going.
- So, did you understand anything?
- No.
Of course you didn't.
It was Hungarian!
Alright, Colombo, I expect you
to be in Valencia on Friday.
- I have my doubts.
- Are you really serious?
It's unbelievable!
It's not a boy scout meeting.
- The judge is expecting you, fuck!
- I bloody well know.
What do you want me to do?
I've got a job.
I'm driving this guy around,
he's not well.
He's fucked up, in fact.
Though he keeps it for himself.
- And do you know why?
- No.
These things are
a delicate issue, darling.
You can't understand...
but they are extremely delicate.
So you tell the judge if I can,
I'll be there. And if I can't, I can't!
Fuck!
Gabriel, there's a guy from Spain here.
Come on, hurry up! He's so slow...
We've got some grandsons in Spain.
In Pamplona.
Really sweet but... little devils!
- You are from Buenos Aires.
- Yes, Villa Crespo.
My mother was raised here,
in Hungary, in this town,
until she was taken away,
and later,
after the liberation,
she left for Argentina.
And so here I am now,
with my husband, closing the circle.
You speak Yiddish!
You speak Yiddish? That's great!
No, no, my grandfather spoke it...
How was it?
Mario, we must go.
Mario, please, listen.
I'm sick and tired from all this.
Let's go, please!
I can't stand this any more.
Mate, we haven't come all this way
to do some waltzing. Let's go!
Waltzing?
Shalom!
One thing is the EU
and that space is another thing, huh?
The European border space,
what do they call it?
- Schengen.
- That.
Romania is not Schengen, right?
We have to stop. That's a border.
What are you doing?
I'm very sorry.
There's an international
search warrant out for me.
Come on, step on it.
They're going to arrest us.
What the fuck are you doing?
Documentation.
Spanish.
- Spanish.
- From Spain.
Madrid.
Madrid.
- Yes.
- No.
No, Madrid, no.
Bara.
Sure. But I am all for Bara!
- No, Real Madrid.
- No, no.
- Bara?
- No, Bara, Bara.
I'm from Cornell,
next door to Barcelona.
Here, Madrid.
I had to register in Madrid
when I met Luisa, my wife.
She worked there.
She used to live in Madrid,
then she moved to Valencia.
Valencia, in Italy?
No, in Italy no. Spain.
- Italia, Valencia.
- No, no.
Well, I don't know but...
I mean Valencia, in Spain.
Fallas, paella, tiger nuts...
- Tiger nuts?
- Yes.
But who cares where we are from?
See those birds? They don't care...
They belong everywhere.
Cranes come and go...
- What?
- Espionage?
Espionage? Me?
Ah, no.
To see the birds!
For bird watching.
Keep going.
Keep going?
- Keep going. Spanish, huh?
- Yes.
Stop!
What?
Fora Bara!
- Get out of there!
- Calm down.
- Get out of there!
- Calm down, please.
Fuck off, calm down!
What the fuck is this?
What are you doing with this?
We're not in Switzerland!
What's this?
Answer me!
I lied to you.
I'm here to find the woman...
I've loved most in my life.
We were together
when we had the accident.
I... fell asleep.
She was badly injured...
And because of me
there was no compensation.
This money is hers.
I was scared...
I was so miserable...
I was married at that time.
And I'd never told her.
I'm such an asshole.
Where is the nearest airport?
Here.
Veliko, Yu-yu.
Bucharest.
I can't believe it.
Get on the car!
On the car!
My partners at the law firm
are a bunch of bastards.
I've spent years
covering up their tallies.
Ah, so in this case I feel relieved.
Come on.
This one for the marijuana
and the other one for my agreed fees.
Plus the airfare back to Valencia.
You won't have trouble finding
another driver with all the cash.
Bloody amazing!
I'll pick up a cab and piss off.
Fuck him.
- Taxi?
- Yes.
Fucking dizzy...
Are you okay? Are you okay?
The money. The money.
I thought they were for sleeping.
Only the red ones
are... for sleeping.
These ones are painkillers.
What's the name of the crane?
Olimpia.
Olimpia is not really
expecting you, is she?
When I got diagnosed,
I tried to make amends.
The injustice I provoked.
Give her all that money.
But things cannot be changed.
And... the harm I've done,
it stays forever.
I am a coward.
Cowardice.
That's my real illness.
No cure for it either.
Well, I tend to do things half-asses.
So, listen to me, Mario.
This is going to end.
What the fuck,
you didn't cross half of Europe
with an asshole next to you
just to right a wrong.
Am I wrong?
You don't fool me.
You want to see that crane.
Hi.
Have you a problem?
Yes...
One big problem.
Sorry...
My children.
In Ucrania.
War.
They are there.
They are there.
We are going to cross Bulgaria...
via Giurgiu.
Across Pont de l'Amiti,
on the Danube.
Friendship Bridge it is called.
- What do you call it in Spanish?
- Amistad.
- Puente de la Amistad.
- Amistad. Nice. Nice.
Tomorrow, Giurgiu, to Constanta.
200 km. Over the Danube.
My son Juan wants to be a musician.
And he's tall and bloody good-looking.
A relief he doesn't take after me.
Luisa says I abandoned the boy.
What the hell will a kid learn
from a fuck-up like me?
A fuck-up wouldn't have brought me
to the Danube.
This is for you.
Take your son to the lagoon...
to watch some birds...
as my father did.
Mario...
You go and see her.
- How was it?
- Very well.
She's very well...
and we've arranged to meet one day.
- Very well.
- I'm happy.
- Hello?
- How are you? It's Colombo.
Oh. Hello.
- Were you asleep?
- No.
- I'll get Luisa for you.
- No, no. Wait.
Just tell her I'll see her on Friday.
To sign the papers.
OK. I'll let her know.
Is Juan awake?
Yes, hold on.
- Hi, dad.
- Hello, son. How are you?
Mum told me you were in Hungary.
I checked the map on the computer.
Now I'm in Romania,
in the city of Constanta,
in front of the Black Sea.
I got here by boat,
cruising along the Danube.
A very long river,
one of the largest in Europe.
Make sure you aren't late for school.
Which course is he in?
Juan is in...
sixth grade.
- Here. Keep them. They are yours.
- They were mine.
- Now, they are yours.
- I've already kept some.
You'll need it.
I don't need it.
Come on. Really.
Take it.
I'll keep this, okay?
It's good for...
It's good for my... stuff.
For what's left of my trip.