Original subtitles

Marketing is everywhere, but one place. In our profession.

When they come to rent the suit, you give them this card.

Here's our card.

-So it's working fine. -We must know where to be.

Hello, Magali. How are you?

-I can't believe it! She... -Got our table.

I hate competition with the informal market.

We've met the richest heirs in the country.

I thought that my fortune wouldn't impress a woman like you.

-Is it here? -So?

-What else do you want? -A partner.

No other profession induces more opposition...

inspires more prejudice, and incites more controversy...

than prostitution.

But no other arouses as much curiosity.

Are there men who call you and don't want sex?

They just want to see you naked?

Yes. A lot.

Do they call you just to massage your feet?

That too.

And some just want you to pet them?

There's all kinds of crazy.

I have clients who call me just to ask questions.

-I'm sorry. -I'm kidding.

I have lots of clients who just want to talk.

It happens more than you can imagine.

Can I ask you a question? Just one more.

Sure.

Leave your card in a suits rental place?

-Where did this come from? -Do you know marketing?

-Marketing? In prostitution? -Yes. Why not?

-Did you do a focus group? -Focus group?

Yes. Don't you use marketing?

Focus group is crucial to understand your clients.

Maybe. But I already know my clients.

-Really? -Yes. They never stop talking.

Did you forget that some don't want sex...

they pay us just to talk.

I didn't.

You lie to your clients, don't you?

You fake orgasm, tell them they're well-endowed.

Do you think they don't lie to you as well?

My cousin told me a story. He works with focus groups.

In the 50's, a decade of innovations...

like the TV, ballpoint pen, the Xerox machine...

He told me a story about a food factory...

that created the instant cake.

All you had to do was to add water.

At the time, everything took a while to be ready.

The factory executives thought they had a sales champion...

but the product flopped.

How?

Why?

Nobody could understand.

So they decided to do a focus group.

They found out that the housewives thought it was too easy...

to make that cake.

They didn't have to do anything and felt useless.

The solution was to change the formula.

Besides water, they had to add one egg.

Just an egg. And they didn't feel useless anymore.

They felt they'd made the cake.

Thus the instant cake became a success.

Thanks to the focus group.

Thanks to one egg.

Is this true?

If it's true, I'm not sure...

but it shows how important a focus group is.

-Is it expensive? -Are you interested?

I was teasing you, this is for companies.

And why can't I have it done?

At least, it'll be fun. Let me meet your cousin.

While Karin moved forward with her plan to conquer the world...

I was after something less audacious.

To make Oscar fall in love with me.

My nanny was an old Romanian about 150 years old.

It's true. She was a palm-reader.

It didn't matter who, she'd read their palms.

-She always got it right. -I see.

She was good. She taught me how to do it.

Can you read palms?

I was the best student of Tatiana Antonesco.

-My Romanian nanny. -So read my palm now.

-No, forget it. -Why?

-You don't believe these things. -I'm curious. Come on.

-Read it. -Okay.

What do you see?

Your hand is beautiful.

-Tell me the truth. -I am. Your hand...

-Forget it. We're late for dinner. -What happened?

-Nothing. -What did you see?

-Luna, can we change subject? -You're scaring me.

-You said you don't believe it. -Tell me what you saw.

-Do you see this line? -Yes.

It says something terrible will happen to you.

-What? -A bearded man...

he'll attack you and he'll kiss you.

-I should slap you. -Hold it. It says two kisses.

I was doing great.

There was only one problem. The cost.

Each time we met, I had a new pair of shoes...

a new dress, a new hair-do.

At least, he never let me pay the check.

Excuse me.

-Thanks. -Can I treat you?

At least once.

All right.

Modern woman, right?

I'll let you pay, or you'll call me a "macho" man.

You know how it is.

I'm sorry.

It's the wrong check.

They forgot to charge the wine.

I didn't know it was so expensive to be a millionaire.

I was used to make money with sex, not to spend it.

On that night, I spent $1,200.

Besides the dress he tore apart.

-Skip the meeting. -It's a big merger, lots of money.

Money is nothing for us. Let's be adventurous.

-Let's be irresponsible? -What do you want to do?

Let's have sex looking at the stars.

Now? The night is gone.

So let's have sex at the Planetarium?

Planetarium? With lots of kids watching?

-Okay, at the art gallery. -No. I have to go.

-I have to change. -But it's raining. Stay.

Goodbye, Oscar.

-It's your mobile. -I know. Let it ring.

Are you avoiding clients? Pass them to me.

It's not a client.

-Who is it? -Nobody.

My God! How mysterious.

-Tell me. -It was Augusto.

A friend.

If he's a friend, why didn't you get the call?

We don't see each other for a long time. He got my card.

He didn't know it was me.

You have one new message.

Joana, it's Augusto.

I know you're there. Stop avoiding me.

Pick up or call me back.

For old times sake. I miss you.

Bye.

To erase, press four.

I thought you'd give up.

Why would I?

It's normal to regret the things we do when we're drunk.

I'm different.

I just regret the things I do when I'm sober.

-Did you tell your cousin? -No.

I just said I'd introduce him to a client from a different field.

So he doesn't know yet...

You're proposing a focus group about prostitution?

Yes.

It's the boldest thing I've heard lately. Whose idea?

-Hers. -His.

It's a brave idea.

A focus group about it would at least be fun, right?

Sure. But it's not serious, is it?

-What do you mean? -You're mocking me.

-Come on, Paschoal... -This is a serious company.

-We have rules and principles. -What principles?

-What do you mean? -Principles.

I don't work with tobacco, alcohol, political parties...

and I won't work for... not that there's anything wrong...

when I was single, I... Right, Joao?

But we have important clients, we're in a great moment...

it wouldn't be good for us to get involved with prostitution.

-It's not like that. -No? Isn't she a whore?

-You could be a bit more... -Forget it. It's not worth it.

-You didn't have to be offensive. -João, this is my work.

Rebeca, call Paulo in Finances.

-Karin, don't be like this. -Like what?

Upset. He must be in a bad mood.

-The company isn't well. -I'm not upset.

We get used to that after so many years.

If it was in the beginning, I'd...

Come to think of it...

-So you have principles? -Hold on. What?

Work with cars is okay. They just pollute the city.

Soy? That's fine. They just destroy the forests.

But not prostitution, right? It'd be wrong.

If you don't want to do the focus group, that's okay.

It's up to you. But just so you know, there's prostitution everywhere.

I won't give you a lecture...

about how the "whores" affected the world.

I won't tell you about Empress Theodora...

Madame Pompadour, or Mata Hari.

I'll tell you about today, of you can see if you pay attention.

It's everywhere. It's on TV shows, restaurants doors...

clothing catalogs, year end gifts from a company to the other...

Your job is to understand people.

What they think, what they do, what they want.

Will you do this avoiding sex?

Avoiding men's main activity, main desire, main thoughts?

Okay. Go ahead.

But your company, dear, isn't a good one.

My God.

Wait!

I'll help you.

I was spending a lot of money with Oscar...

and making very little with the business.

From a fake millionaire I'd end up a true poor girl.

I needed to raise my income somehow.

Thanks. Do you have the answers for Financial & Accounting?

No, but I can get it.

Cool.

Where were you? We have to go.

Where?

Focus group? But we don't sell toothpaste.

It's serious. We need to know what our clients think.

-I know what they think. -You think you know.

We're doing a research about men nowadays.

I see.

We sell this research to companies...

that want to know about the market.

I included some questions about your field of expertise.

You'll just pay your part.

-What? Isn't this focus group... -That's all I can do.

-I'll have to pay? -That's the least you can do.

So?

-All right. -Let's go then.

Hello.

This is Miriam. She'll supervise the research.

Please sit down.

-Hello. -You can sit here.

-Thank you. -You're welcome.

Good afternoon. Let's get started?

First of all, I'd like to talk about personal care.

Do you exercise frequently?

We have to take care of ourselves. I exercise three times a week.

I'm lazy. I've tried to work out several times, but it didn't work.

-I'm not disciplined. -It's hard to get used to it...

It took a while to get to the interesting part.

They talked about exercise, eating habits, music...

but finally...

Let's talk about the last subject of the day.

Who of you has hired the services of an escort girl?

I did once. But it was boring, unnatural.

Me too, twice when I was young.

-But I didn't like it. -Where did they come from?

They're selected to represent the average habits and opinions...

of national population.

They're shy.

Our mediator knows how to make them talk.

Sex with love is much better, you know?

Don't you think?

He didn't.

They talked as if their mother was there.

I've been to a brothel, but not for the whores.

My friends and I went there as a joke, you know.

I have friends who go out with whores...

but they're very needy.

I went out with a whore...

because I was virgin and young.

I'd just gotten my first girlfriend...

she was virgin, so I paid a whore.

But never again.

I don't agree with paying someone for sex.

I'd rather know the woman is with me because I won her over...

or something about me attracted her.

This is much better.

I think it's a turn off to time the sex...

and to spend money on it.

I agree.

This is all very nice, but I don't have time for nonsense.

Bye-bye.

-Hello, Oscar. -I have plans with you.

Every time Oscar invited me for something, my purse trembled.

I needed more money.

Quickly.

It's more dignified to masturbate than to go out with a whore.

I agree. You can write this down, it's true.

Men who go out with whores don't love their wives or girlfriends.

They may say they do, but they don't.

I agree.

How to make money...

when you have no answers to sell or clients to go out?

-Hello, Luna. -Yuri, what are you doing tonight?

I have knots and moorings class.

-What? -Knots and moorings.

Why would you want to learn that?

I'm thinking about camping and it might be useful.

No, Yuri, you can't go today.

Today you're having dinner at my parents.

No, Luna.

They love you and I need a favor from my Dad. Please?

So? I'm curious about the results.

-It didn't work. -What do you mean?

The mediator couldn't get one honest answer. They lied.

-What is it? -Nothing.

It's normal to feel upset when you don't like what you hear.

Is it normal to give this excuse when focus groups don't work?

What do you know about focus groups?

I still have to analyze and make out what was said.

What'll be the understanding? There's not market for me?

-Who knows? -There's no need to analyze that.

Don't waste your time, I've already wasted my money.

Here.

-For me? -No, for Mom.

Seriously?

Yes. It's your gift to my mom.

Tell her you thought about her. She'll love it.

-Yuri, it's beautiful. I loved it. -I'm glad.

Thanks.

I thought about you when I saw it.

You're the son-in-law every mother wants.

-I loved it. -And Karin?

-What is it? -Why didn't she come?

-She couldn't come. -Did you tell her I'd be here?

You're always here.

-Well, tell her I sent a kiss. -Okay.

And she can choose where she'll be kissed.

Shut up, Fred.

Let's eat, or the food will get cold.

Great!

You have three new messages. First message.

Joana, it's Augusto again. Aren't you going to call me?

This is the last time I try.

Message erased.

Next message.

Remember I said it was the last time? I lied.

But seriously now. Really.

It's the last time. I won't bother you again.

If you want to talk to me, call me. You have my number.

Message erased. Next message.

Joana, guess what?

I lied again.

Please call me back. I want to see you.

Message erased.

-I put the money in your purse. -Thanks.

What money?

-It's... -You gave her money?

Why don't you mind your own business?

-How much? -It doesn't matter!

You should give me money too. It's not fair.

I give her money because she works hard.

You don't even want to study.

-Idiot. -What did you say?

-Did you see what Yuri gave me? -Hold on! Repeat that.

You give everything to Maria Clara and nothing for me.

You don't like me. You never did.

Dear, don't...

One day, I'll kill myself. You'll see.

This kid is terrible!

You're used to my brother's tantrums, right?

He's getting worse.

I don't know.

What?

I understand him.

What do you mean?

You're the favorite. It's obvious.

Come on.

The favorite never thinks he's the favorite.

But the other knows he's not the favorite.

Do you know what it is to compete...

knowing all you can get is second place?

It's not easy to be the ignored son. Not easy.

What are you talking about? You're an only child.

So what? I don't have real brothers, but I have brothers.

Karin was upset because she'd lost money on the focus group.

She was down and didn't want to work, but she had to.

So she went to a bachelor's party. Such is life.

Hello, I'm the groom. You must be Aphrodite, I suppose.

A little advice. Never try this with anybody, but an escort.

It worked out fine with my fiancée.

I'm sorry to interrupt, but she's here for someone else.

Who she's here for?

The best man. Choose another one.

Hello.

Hi.

Dammit, Augusto. What are you doing here?

I'm glad you came.

-Did you plan all of this? I was... -I asked a friend to call you.

I wanted to see you.

-I didn't want to see you. -I noticed after all those calls.

You should've respected my wish.

Joana, you know me. I never respected anyone.

Stop it. Really. All right?

My life has changed. It can't be mixed with the old one.

Why? Are you ashamed of your career? You shouldn't be.

-I'm leaving. -I'm the one...

who should be ashamed, I'm a tax lawyer.

Why do you want so much to see me?

Why, Joana? It's me, Augusto! I missed you. Isn't it enough?

There. You saw me. Now let me go.

I will, but wait.

Let's make a deal.

-What deal? -We have dinner once.

-To catch up on things. -No.

Just one dinner for old times sake. No dessert.

-Then I'll let you go for ever. -Enough. No dinner.

I have five weddings for the next two months.

If you don't have dinner with me, we'll meet again.

-Are you bribing me? -I am.

-You won't give up, will you? -No.

Fine.

Just a dinner, and you'll forget about me.

Deal.

I'll call you.

-You didn't change a bit. -That's what they say.

Hello?

Karin, it's Paschoal. Can you hear me?

-Yes. -I have the focus group analysis.

And...?

The result was compromised. It doesn't match the reality.

-I told you. -I know you did.

I called you to ask if you want to try again.

And pay again? No, I don't have money.

You don't have to pay. This time it'll work.

-How do you know? -I'll make it work.

I guarantee.

Oscar wants to go to a fundraiser for poor children.

The invitation must cost a fortune. I'm broke.

-Didn't you father give you money? -It barely paid for the shoes.

-Can I borrow this one? -Yes. Whatever you want.

But I think you should go to the focus group with me.

Again? To waste my time?

Or waste your money in a fundraiser?

I hope to see this money again some day.

Well, gentlemen, the last issue of the day.

Who hired the services of an escort girl?

I've been to a brothel. Everybody has.

I went with friends. We drank, laughed, but no sex.

Most of the guys don't have sex, right?

Again? Impossible. Where's Paschoal?

I don't know. He said he'd come, but didn't.

I'm a loyal man.

That's what I think. Why cheat on someone?

I'd better go home and read the paper.

At least, the horoscope section has fewer lies.

I'm sorry, I'm late.

That's okay.

-I'm Helio. May I sit down? -Please.

Hello.

We were talking about paying for sex.

Immediately, Paschoal started lying about prostitutes.

I lost my virginity with an escort girl.

I think it happens with most men. The father takes him to a brothel.

Whores should have a statue in their honor.

I think I pay them not to go out with them...

-but to send them away. -That's right.

I pay so no one will call me the next day.

Going out with an escort girl is like preserving my marriage.

If I cheat on my wife with someone I knew...

it'd be a problem. Whores are our wives' best friends.

Then the other guys started to talk.

Actually I'm against cheating, but I'm not a fundamentalist either.

Nobody is.

-I've sinned, like everybody else. -Once in a while, right?

I go out with escorts sometimes, but I'm not addicted to them.

Soon they all opened up.

In my opinion, sex with a whore is not cheating.

Now explain that to my wife.

When you get used to sex with a whore...

it's hard to have a relationship with a common girl.

It's annoying to have to talk her into sex...

and we're not used anymore to be rejected.

You pay and that's it.

If you can't perform, the whores don't say anything.

If your feet smell, they don't complain.

Feet smell? That's too much!

You know why? I'm paying!

And some women still believe their husbands play poker...

go fishing. It's great.

-Everyday. -Yes. Poker on Monday...

soccer on Wednesday, fishing on the weekends.

I bet you. He's going after whores.

It's like my grandpa used to say...

"if you want nice teeth look for a professional."

Why can't we do the same when it comes to sex?

I'm curious. How much will it cost us?

I have a small bag...

Nothing. This is an auction. You pay what you want.

But what about this?

The money they raise will pay for it.

It's on the Somalian kids' tab.

I was safe on this one.

More married men go out with escorts than single men.

Single men don't need that. They can go to parties and all.

But for married men, this is the best thing.

It's fast and easy.

Nowadays, these girls are in parties, hip places.

When I go out with my wife, she goes crazy.

"That woman is looking at you! She is!"

Poor wife. She doesn't even know the girl is a whore, an escort!

And thank God we have a great national product.

Foreign whore are terrible.

You can't even kiss their breasts.

And when the clock starts, it's 200 Euros each 10 minutes.

Here in Brazil, we have a relationship with the girls.

We French kiss, hug them. It's like a girlfriend.

The most important isn't the sex, it's the seduction, win them over.

It's like seducing a girlfriend who will never say no.

And another thing. How much does a girlfriend cost?

It all adds up, movies, parking, popcorn, 50 Reais.

You'd be better off going out with an escort.

Besides, they don't nag you.

And there's more, hear me out...

prostitutes make you feel like a king.

They fake orgasm, say you have a big penis...

it's as if they really like us. And this is nice.

Do you know what's my goal? To give a whore an orgasm.

-Really? You never did it? -Did you?

-He's such a liar! -Everybody did that already.

-Can I put off my cigarette here? -Sure.

Thanks. I hate to throw it on the floor. Specially on the grass.

It's not nice with the plants, right?

-Don't I know you? -Are you hitting on me?

-No. -Too bad.

-Magali. -Luna.

-Is this glass clean? -I think so.

Please.

Fill it up.

I know! Last week, at a Itaim restaurant...

-Bistrô d'Azur. Right? -Maybe, I'm always there.

Big Renato is the owner. Should be little Renato.

Ten minutes and two champagne glasses later...

she was telling me all about her life.

She said she always had everything she wanted...

until she was five.

Her parents were bon vivants.

Even after the bankruptcy, they kept their lifestyle.

But it didn't last long.

On Magali's 10th birthday...

they moved to the only property the family hadn't lost.

To provide for the family...

Magali's dad turned the farm into a Bed & Breakfast.

That's where Magali spent her teens.

Until she was 18, when she came to São Paulo.

I came to study, didn't happen. I decided to save my allowance.

Didn't do that either. I wanted to work, but didn't.

I found out that I could live by going to art galleries, parties.

I had free dinner every night. I met very rich people.

One day, someone asked me...

What do you do for a living?

Nothing.

But I do everything. And you?

I own a hotel.

That's when I figured that for one night of partying...

I could get several days for free in a hotel.

I left the hostel I lived and never returned.

I became a nomad, eating at the best restaurants...

living in the best hotels, with no costs.

I spent my allowance in clothing.

But all I have fits in a luggage.

Now I'm here.

You're the most sincere person I've ever met.

-What about me? -You're the second, honey.

This is Magali.

Oscar.

Pleasure.

Is there a favorite time to do that? Day of the week?

I like to have sex in the afternoon.

I tell my wife I have a meeting in a nearby town...

I go to the brothel, do my thing...

go back home...

and my wife is happy because I'm home early.

I think it must be random. I used to go after work...

but I was getting home too late and my wife was mad.

So I applied to a gym. And she thinks I'm exercising.

I can arrive home with wet hair, smelling good, no problem.

I tell her I exercised a lot, I'm sore...

and I'm excused from sex with my wife.

I'm just human, right?

You two are very quiet. Don't you want to say anything?

I don't like to go out with escorts.

I've done that. It wasn't bad, I'd do it again.

But it's complicated.

-I see. And you... -Complicated how?

Ask him why it's complicated.

What do you mean complicated?

I don't like brothels...

and people will see if I bring whores home.

So it's not a matter of principles, but opportunity?

If you opened a trapdoor at home and an escort girl...

-Fell down in your bed. -Would you have sex?

Would you have sex?

If there was a catapult to throw her far afterwards, yes.

It's not a matter of principle.

Do you agree?

If she showed up at the right place at the right time...

with no risks or worries, I'd have sex with her.

Jesus! There's a whole market to be explored.

Too bad we didn't buy anything.

-You never stopped talking to... -Magali.

Your friend has a nice car.

My car! Who got my car?

-It was a woman. I thought... -You don't think.

You're not paid to think. My Maserati!

-She must've been mistaken. -Is there another Maserati here?

-I'll check, sir. -Send someone after her!

Do something! It's unbelievable.

My cigarettes are in there. Do you have any?

There it is, sir.

This is my car.

You have a good taste. Cigarette?

I have a pack in the car.

It's yours.

Do you have a Maserati?

I wish. I don't have a car.

Do you want a ride?

-You won't believe that girl. -What girl?

The one I've been talking to for half an hour. Magali.

She has...

-a good aura. I like her. -Hold on. Hold on.

What?

We're cracking down on sexual exploitation.

We closed down six clubs that had rooms...

but had no permit to act as a hotel.

Irregular establishments profiting from prostitution.

This is just the beginning.

What a bitch!

-It's not our concern. -True. Not anymore.

What happened to the focus group?

I thought you'd keep talking about that girl and never ask.

I'm asking now. Any conclusions?

I understood what the problem with the instant cake is...

and what the housewives think. I just need to figure out one thing.

What is it?

The egg.