The Absent Voice (2024) s01e06 Episode Script

(APPLAUSE)
Thank you.
In an hour, we'll continue
with graduate Gerardo Roca's presentation.
Thanks.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(CANDELA SIGHS)
Does José know about this betrayal?
Oh. (LAUGHS)
You caught me.
Poor José.
First, he loses his brother
to the claws of psychoanalysis,
- and now, his wife.
- Mmm.
Yes, I'm getting back to my studies.
I didn't want to lose the hang of it.
I don't know.
- You think it's too late?
- No, it's never too late.
(DOORS OPENING, CLOSING)
Want to have coffee
before the next one starts?
Oh, please, I beg you. (LAUGHS)
- This guy left me exhausted.
- (LAUGHS) It was so boring.
CANDELA: Exhausted!
- (LAUGHS)
- One day, my mother was taking a shower,
and my sister and I
fought like never before.
My mom was shouting from the shower,
"What's going on? Candela?" (LAUGHS)
Suddenly, she storms out
of the shower holding a brush.
- No.
- I swear.
- And bam.
- And she--
(LAUGHS)
Hello.
- No.
- Yes. No.
- It's barely noticeable.
- Terrible. It was terrible.
But poor woman, she was right.
She was desperate.
She was desperate.
I see José and I having a kid
that's a demon.
- You deserve it.
- Satanic, of course.
I can't complain, you know?
I deserve it. What can I say?
I'm screwed.
(DOOR OPENS)
(CLEARS THROAT)
We'll see what happens with that.
It's hard.
I think that three tries are a lot.
I'm very tired. The truth is
If it's not meant to be, it isn't.
But there are other ways
to be a parent, you know.
- Well.
- Yes.
I don't know.
I think we must first get over
this feeling of angst and disappointment.
- PABLO: To the
- What?
We're 15 minutes late
to Roca's presentation.
What should we do? Get the check? Hmm?
Or another beer?
(LAUGHING)
- I'm such a bad student!
- (LAUGHING)
I'm a mess!
- Sir, we'll have another beer.
- WAITER: Coming up.
- PABLO: Thanks.
- We'll get an abstract.
You're lazy.
(LAUGHING)
(CAR CHIRPS)
Okay, see you.
I'll take you home.
No, but you're going somewhere else.
- Come on.
- No, there's no need.
It was nice to see you.
(KISSES)
THE ABSENT VOICE
REPORTER: (ON TV) The murderer,
who was on the run for 20 years,
was caught last night
in a police operation
after being shot
by the father of the victim.
The incident happened
days before the case expired.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER ON TV)
I see you're taking care of the past.
Congratulations.
(KNOCKS ON DOOR)
CECILIA: May I?
How are you? I heard you were leaving.
The doctor came, and I'm discharged.
Still, I feel like
I was run over by a truck.
(SIGHS) You and your drive.
You're making the force look bad. (LAUGHS)
You don't have to go too far to do so.
I'll leave you with your visitor.
See you later.
- How kind.
- (BOTH LAUGH)
Welcome to my life.
Any news?
Yes.
The donations
from Hontou to Lemos Institute
have nothing to do
with child exploitation.
Looks like Hontou
had a child from an affair.
And that son
is Dante Santana.
- So Dante and Hernán are brothers.
- They're brothers.
The motives for Mansilla
and Hontou's crimes are not the same.
And I want to apologize.
I judged your brother too soon.
I apologize if I was too harsh.
You were too harsh like you always are.
(DOOR CLOSES)
Come to my place for dinner.
To celebrate your return to the case.
(PHONES RINGING)
CECILIA: We know Dante is not your son.
If you'll lie, I'd rather you don't talk.
You think that if I knew something,
I wouldn't tell you?
CECILIA: With this, I have enough
to open a case against you
for being an accessory
to Francisco Mansilla's murder, okay?
(GLASS CLINKING)
Please tell us where Dante is.
(PRINTER WHIRRING)
I haven't seen him in days.
He asked to stay home for a few days,
and he said that if I spoke a word,
he'd slit my throat.
He said it so calmly.
CECILIA: Tell us.
What happened on November 21st, 2000?
Griselda was seven months pregnant.
All the employees at Hontou's house
knew he was the father of the child.
That day, she started feeling unwell
and, not wanting to bother the boss
and since she lived near my house,
she asked for help.
I left her in the kitchen
and went to a pharmacy.
And when
When I came back
(BABY WAILING)
I found something horrifying.
(WAILING CONTINUING)
RAÚL: I never forget when someone
lends me a hand, you know?
In life, you have to be grateful.
(BABY CRYING)
Very well, gentlemen.
We can register the child.
RAÚL: Thank you, Francisco.
You know a scandal like this
would ruin me right now.
Tell me, please, when, how much--
MANSILLA: (STAMMERS) Raúl, don't worry.
We're here to help.
Name of the boy?
Dante.
Dante Santana.
(SIGHS)
(KNOCKS ON DOOR)
Pablo.
Mauro. Nice to meet you.
Come in.
Excuse me.
Come in, please.
Make yourself at home.
Ceci is on her way.
Do you like pasta?
- Yes, sure.
- My Bolognese sauce is to die for.
No beef.
Ceci told me
you're one of those degenerates.
Come, Pablo,
I want you to taste this marvel.
- No, thanks.
- You don't drink alcohol?
Let's say the last time I did,
I ended up getting shot,
so I better not.
Ah. How's your wound?
The wound doesn't really hurt.
What hurts is my whole body.
Oof.
Luckily, the bullet made me lose feeling
from my chest to my toes,
so I didn't feel anything.
Dark humor.
I'm sorry. I get like this when--
Yes, when you're nervous.
That's right.
Ceci told me you see
right through people
as if they are made of glass.
Hi. Sorry for being late.
Shall we go to the table?
Yes? Hi.
MAURO: The guy was huge.
He turned around, and he couldn't believe
this girl
had the strength to handcuff him.
He looked at me as if saying,
"Do something."
And I said, "Man, you got into this
by yourself. Get it together."
But that was the moment I realized
Ceci was the love of my life.
(CHUCKLES) It was mutual. Immediate.
It's not easy to find that.
We're lucky.
MAURO: We're lucky.
Are you married?
No, life took me on a different path.
Let's say psychoanalysis is like
the closest thing to a wife for me.
- (LAUGHS)
- Look, we did some couple's therapy.
Mmm. Really? And?
MAURO: Yes, after the accident,
you know
Well, it left insecurities in me as a man.
Did it help at all?
It helped, yes.
It helped me realize
that I can be a man in other ways for her.
And, mainly, that her freedom
wouldn't jeopardize our love.
(SIGHS)
Hmm.
I'll have the last one.
Tomorrow, I have a soccer match.
(CECILIA LAUGHS)
- MAURO: Cheers.
- CECILIA: Cheers.
Well, thanks for the invitation.
It was Mauro's idea, actually.
- I imagined it was.
- Obviously. (LAUGHS)
(POP MUSIC PLAYING ON SPEAKERS)
(HEAVY BREATHING)
(HEAVY BREATHING)
- And this?
- For you.
It's beautiful.
You know I can't wear it, right?
Knowing you have it is enough.
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
(BARKS)
(BARKING)
What? Want to go for a walk?
You want to go for a walk, right?
Come on. Let's go. Come on, Roxy.
(PANTING)
Give it to me. Give it to me, Roxy.
Give it to me. Good. Let's go.
(BARKS)
(PHONE TAPPING)
(DOGS BARKING IN DISTANCE)
(ROXY BARKING)
(SIGHS)
No, Roxy, no.
I'm sorry.
- She's still a puppy.
- MAN: She's beautiful.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
Thanks.
(GRUNTS)
MANSILLA: Dante.
- (BELL TOLLS)
- Dr. José came to talk to you, okay?
I'll be here. I'll be very close.
I'll leave you alone.
(CHILDREN SCREAMING PLAYFULLY IN DISTANCE)
Hello, Dante.
(BAG UNZIPS)
(CLICKS)
(CASSETTE WHIRRING)
JOSÉ: (ON SPEAKERS) Can we play a game?
DANTE: I don't like games.
JOSÉ: You'll like this one. You'll see.
What happened to your hand?
Does it hurt?
I'll say a word and you'll say
whatever comes to your mind.
DANTE: What if nothing comes to my mind?
JOSÉ: It will. You'll see.
Shall I start?
- Home.
- DANTE: Tree.
JOSÉ: Very good. Excellent.
Books.
DANTE: Sky.
ABUSER
JOSÉ: Friend.
DANTE: Ernesto.
BIOLOGICAL FATHER
It's nice, what you're making.
Is that a family?
- Love.
- DANTE: Flowers.
JOSÉ: Night.
- DANTE: Forest.
- JOSÉ: Fear.
SURROGATE FATHER
DANTE: Dirt.
Can you teach me how to do it?
Tree, sky, flowers, forest,
dirt.
You love nature.
BROTHER
DANTE: I don't know.
JOSÉ: And what is nature, Dante?
DANTE: Where Hansel and Gretel get lost,
where Moby Dick lives.
(KNOCKS ON DOOR)
JOSÉ: Have you ever been
to a place like that?
(RECORDER CLICKS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
- (SIGHS)
- These are the others he killed?
It's a pattern.
Like a family tree that he's trimming.
The only one
who doesn't fit in is your dad.
If I tell you something,
promise you won't do anything
without my permission?
I can't promise you that.
At least, you won't tell anyone.
What happened?
Remember you asked me
what I talked to Dad about
the last time I saw him
at the clinic?
Yes.
I went to ask him about this.
Where did you get that?
They left it for me at home.
They'd already left one in my locker.
It had a note that said,
"Ask the old man."
So I went to the clinic, asked him,
and he went crazy,
started crying, asked me to leave.
The next day, they found him dead.
Why haven't you said anything?
Because he's threatening me!
He enters my house, leaves signs
that he can get in whenever he wants.
If he hurts Mom, I'll die, Uncle.
I'm sure it's that son of a bitch.
CECILIA: Dante left your brother a book
about a guy with two faces.
JOSÉ: I did something terrible.
BRUNO: It had a note that said,
"Ask the old man."
JOSÉ: You're the only one
who can tell me if I'm a monster.
I think that three tries are a lot.
PABLO: But there are other ways
to be a parent.
JOSÉ: It's nice, what you're making.
Is that a family?
ADOPTIVE FATHER
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYING ON SPEAKERS)
JOSÉ: He's a special kid.
I feel like we connected.
What do we know about him? His parents?
They left him when he was born,
and, well, no one has visited him.
No one? Uncles, grandparents?
No. All these years, no one has come.
Poor kid.
Yes, it's their loss.
(CHILDREN SHOUTING PLAYFULLY)
CANDELA: So, should I go?
- Sure.
- Yeah?
- Yes, go ahead.
- Hold this, please.
Hi!
How are you?
I'm Candela.
(CANDELA LAUGHS)
Do you want me to push you? Okay.
Is that okay?
- No?
- Faster.
Faster?
Okay.
- JOSÉ: Go.
- CANDELA: Go, come on.
JOSÉ: One.
Two.
- CANDELA: Wait.
- JOSÉ: Three.
DANTE: Chase me!
- JOSÉ: Four.
- CANDELA: You run too fast.
(BOTH LAUGH)
Five.
Another foot.
Six.
Seven.
Another foot. We're here!
- Eight, nine.
- (CANDELA EXCLAIMS)
Ten.
(LAUGHTER)
I'm coming to get you.
Where are you?
CANDELA: Do you like it?
DANTE: Yes.
There's a forest there.
(LAUGHTER)
(JOSÉ AND DANTE SHOUTING PLAYFULLY)
- Come over here.
- JOSÉ: Catch him!
Come over here. There you are!
- He's running away.
- JOSÉ: I'll catch you!
I'll catch you!
(LAUGHTER)
(GROANS)
(HEAVY BREATHING)
CANDELA: What are we going to do?
What do you mean?
We'll have a baby.
It's what we wanted, my love. I love you.
(SIGHS)
(SNORING)
(FLOOR CREAKING)
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
(GASPS, SHOUTS)
MANSILLA: Dante,
people are like that.
(CANDELA GASPING)
MANSILLA: They promise things,
and then they don't fulfill them.
(CLINKING)
MANSILLA: But you can trust me.
Because you and I,
we have something special.
(RAIN PATTERING)
(TIRES SCREECH)
(ROXY BARKING)
- (ROXY WHINING)
- BRUNO: Roxy.
Roxy, calm down.
(KEYS CLINKING)
Mom.
Mom.
Mom!
Mom.
Candela!
Mom!
Mom!
Where are you?
JOSÉ: Tree, sky, flowers, forest.
- You love nature.
- PABLO: I don't know.
She's not here.
JOSÉ: Have you ever been
to a place like that?
I think I know where he took her.
(POLICE SIRENS BLARING)
Mom!
Mom!
(INDISTINCT POLICE RADIO CHATTER)
OFFICER: Kid.
We found some prints.
(INTENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
BRUNO: Mom!
Mom!
Mom! Go ahead! Come on, check it.
The tree over there
Have you seen anything?
OFFICER: There's nothing in here.
OFFICER 2: Clear.
BRUNO: Check here.
Check here. Come on.
BRUNO: Check properly.
Go through everything.
OFFICER: Kid.
The Phantom of
THE OPERA
"A monster that hides behind a mask,
who lives and dies underground."
OFFICER: Here!
BRUNO: Where?
Where?
(PANTING)
(BRUNO SOBBING)
Mom!
(SOBBING) Mom!
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)