Original subtitles

The Power of Darkness

a film by Mario Sabato

Freely adapted from “Report on the Blind"

by Ernesto Sabato

Fernando

Fernando

It's been a while

Don't you remember me?

- No - What do you mean?

We have to talk. You'll be very interested

- You need to hear this - Stop it!

Someone's waiting

- Is there a problem? - No

Who is that guy?

A friend of mine

If you're like that with friends I fear for your enemies

Well, he's not really a friend

Just a guy I knew as a kid

He used to follow me around, and...

- eventually... - You got sick of him, right?

Pretty much

I know what you mean

He's staring at you

- I have to go - But, the movie...!

I bought tickets

You've known Fernando long?

Well, not really

We live in the same building

We used to be good friends

When we were Kids

He was kind of strange then

He needed a lot of attention, from everyone

We had to do what he wanted

He's not changed then

But he was stranger than usual today, right?

Yes... Yes, he was

Maybe something you said bothered him

What?... no I didn't

Maybe you didn't mean to, but you did

No, we only said a few words

Maybe you said something about blind people

Fernando... wait for me

You almost shit yourself, eh?

We were waiting for you

- How did you get in here? - Well...

- Who's he? - A friend of mine

You can call me "The Turk", everyone calls me that

What do you want?

- I came here for business - I'm not interested

But I told him you're the guy we need

He said great things about you

- Said you're a genius - Sorry, I'm not interested

Oh come on! You don't have a penny

You still have land to sell?

- So he has land - He used to have lots of it

But he sold it and spent the money... typical

Look, if you have land to sell I can buy it

You don't want to do this?

Then you're no longer into this

You never were into it, not really

Get lost

And take your fat friend with you

- Let me know if you change your mind - Fine, fine..

Do what you want

But let me tell you one thing...

you're an asshole

Mr. Olmos

Did you see it?

See what?

The bird

What bird?

It was huge, didn't you see it?

No!

Maybe it was a sign

A sign of what?

Of something about to happen

I'm not drunk

I'm not

I think she did it just to get noticed

Because it was history class, and the teacher's so cute

It was great

She suddenly opened the window, said "good morning"

and climbed in, just like that

You should have seen the teacher's face

We couldn't stop laughing

That's how she got kicked out of school

Where'd you want to go now?

To the Zoo

The Zoo?

Yes, you used to take me to the Zoo all the time

But you were a little girl back then

So what

You remember me now?

Close the door, we have to talk

We've nothing to talk about

- We don't? -No

- Fernando, we're both into this - Into what?

Into this mess

And we can't talk about it to anyone else

Please, leave... Leave now!

- We better start from the beginning - What beginning?

The times you poked the birds' eyes out!

That...

Ok, I used to poke birds' eyes out

You did that too, most kids do that

No, kids can be cruel sometimes but they don't poke bird's eyes out

OK, I poked bird's eyes out! So what?

Why?

I don't know

Why? Why did we do that?

- I don't remember - You don't?

You do remember

- You do - Alright!

- To see them fly without sight! - Yes!

To see them fly without sight

You understand it now?

No, what?

Do you remember when...

when you walked with your eyes closed?

To find out what it was like to be blind

Yes, so what?

And the nightmares?

Don't you dream about someone ripping your eyes out?

Who you think's going to do that?

The blind birds?

Or the blind people?

Fernando...

Oh, I'm sorry I thought... I'm sorry

Oh my god!

Do you realize?

You have to stay alert all the time

Stay alert?

It's terrible to trust no one

We have no time Fernando

They know I'm aware of the plot

The plot?

I couldn't talk to anyone else about it

Because if you do, they'll think you're mad

Or some sort of creep

So long I've been looking for you

- What is this? - It's an almost perfect plot

But what is it?

The plot against us by the blind people

Can't you see? It's perfect

Even you think I'm crazy. And you know what they're like

- Fernando, they're going to kill me - That's nonsense

It's a plot, it's a plot!

I'll prove it to you

I know him, he's always around here

Really?

Just some poor guy, right?

Where's the back door?

Does that go to the roof?

I'll see you again. Don't worry, I'll find you!

He's gone, right?

I'm sorry

I shouldn't have given him your address

You don't need to say it. I'm an asshole

Don't worry, it's Ok

Hey...

Your friend, he's a kind of...

Kind of a looney, isn't he?

Kind of!

Well, come over, breakfast's ready

Want to know what he says?

He says blind people are after him

They want to kill him

Blind guys?

Well, who knows?

Wait

When you see a blind guy, don't you feel...

strange?

Something like...

like disgust

Disgust?

Of course not

I pity them

They've enough problems, don't give them a new one

Let's go get breakfast

Stop fucking screaming!

I'm not going to hurt you

- How did you get in? - Jumped over the fence to take a look

What did you see?

I saw you, pretending to be a blind man

Did you believe I was blind?

Why not?

Blind men don't move like that, it's not my fault

Can I go now?

Yes

Weirdo!

Come on...

I've something really important to say

Going down?

No, up. I'll be back in a minute

What are you waiting for?

Do you have a daughter?

- Yes - They must never know about her

- What? - You have to protect her

Hide her from them

Don't let them find her name or address, keep it secret

Because...

anyone close to us is in danger

It was too late when I learnt that

They hit where it hurts the most

Don't give me that look

I'm not crazy!

It'll be the same for you

Suddenly...

you see they are chasing you day and night

And then you'll be fighting to stay sane

- They make you lose your mind! - Calm down

Tell me exactly what you know about them

Nothing

I know nothing

They think I know the whole thing, but...

I know nothing

I know nothing about the sect

Or the libraries...

The charitable organization...

Or their ways of recruiting people. I know nothing!

All I know is... they're after me

They'll kill me

And that I'm a coward...

that keeps hiding like a rat

Like a rat scared to death

Do you know how it feels...

to find out that you're a nobody

In that moment all you can do,

is to search for somebody you can trust

Someone to believe you

Even though you know that will turn him into the next victim

And I know...

I know I should have done something

Write a report about it, so people can know the truth

But I couldn't, I still can't

You must see we can't let this go on

It can't go on like this

Someone has to do it

You understand now, don't you?

Sorry to bother you but where's the circuit-breaker?

Quiet! we'll get into trouble with all this noise

Hurry up, the candles are going out

Happy birthday!

Here's my friend Fernando, and these are all school friends

Except for one

That would be me

Hi, I'm Norma Pugliese, one of their teachers from the institute

You could say I'm the workers teacher

Workers? The teacher's drunk already

Norma's an angel

She's the one that encouraged me to finish high school as an adult

I always say that life is a matter of exceeding oneself

Exactly!

Let's take a look at Hector's experiments

Hey, cut that out

And I thought as a teacher I'd be preparing kids for the future

"The Man and the Beast". What was it called?

Mr. Jekyll and Dr Hyde

Put it down, you'll break it

At night Hector drinks his secret formula

And lots of hair come up from his hands

He later goes out to the streets to kidnap innocent young girls

Give me that... and cut the bullshit

I'm so happy you remembered to come, Fernando

He always forgets things

Like all geniuses, like Einstein

No, I'm joking. He's a good friend

I can see that

Mr. Olmos, phone call for you

Hello

Yes

Yes, I know the address. I don't need to write it down

On Wednesday

But I'm not going anyway

I told you, I'm not going!

And don't call me ever again

Are you going?

- Yes, I have to - Which way are you going?

- I'm going downtown - Me too

If that's for me, say I don't live here anymore

- What? - Tell him I'm dead... whatever

Are you in a hurry? Maybe we could have a drink?

No

No to which?

I'm not in a hurry

Where's Fernando?

Mr. Olmos left

With that girl from your party

Are you single?

Typical

- What do you mean? - A typical female question

You want to know if I'm married. Well I'm not

So aggressive

I'm sorry

I was married once

Along time ago

Any children?

No

That's a pity

I love kids

Is that you?

Yes

Thank you for coming

What's going on?

Nothing

It's over

It ends tonight

I'm not escaping anymore

But you must do something

Like what?

Like going to the police, and tell them

some blind poor fellows are trying to kill me?

You could leave

I wouldn't get very far

Were you followed?

I don't think so

They don't know about you yet

Don't you see?

Then you can do what I didn't... You can do it

Do what?

Write a report

Start an investigation

There must be a way... a way to...

to find out

You have to do it

But be careful

If they...

If anything happens to you...

You can't let them find your report

If they do, they'll destroy it

That is paramount

That...

That someone else... can continue with the report

Do you understand?

Now you must go

Juan...

Please go

Let's go to the movies

You know there's more blind people every day in Buenos Aires?

- What? - They're everywhere

Maybe it's an invasion

You're being weird

The thing is you don't notice them

For example, how many blind men did you see on this block?

- I didn't see any - Really?

Yes

I guess you'll always find some

Come on, let's go to the movies

Did you ever touch the skin of a blind man?

No... I don't remember

You would remember if you did

It's...

cold

- What? - Cold

- Like the skin of a reptile - Fernando, please...

What do you want?

Are you going to steal from a poor blind man?

Police! Stop him!

What's all that noise?

Unbelievable... there's no respect anymore

It's a crazy world isn't it?

It must be loneliness, eh?

Yes, too many lonely people

How many lonely people in Buenos Aires?

Lots of them

Hey, did you know a woman visits that guy?

The looney in the next apartment

She comes to see him. A chick with a limp

Really! A chick with a limp

- What? - Yes, a limping chick with a cane

But I tell you, she's hot

What do you think blind people see?

What?

Yes...

Do you think they see...

just black?

Well, yeah... just black

It seems that they don't

A famous blind writer...

said that they see blue

A big blue stain

Just a big blue stain

Cuchacucha at 18.00, an attack on an abandoned building

How didn't you see this before?... Unbelievable

No one comes this way. Who would know?

Maybe he was shouting and couldn't be heard above the noise

The demolition began today... how could we find him before?

We weren't here

- You got it? - Yes, take it

- What do you need a gun for? - That's my business

Whatever

Careful, it's not a toy

Listen here...

Fernando, are you in trouble?

Come on, that's what friends are for

- Hi - Hello

You're leaving?

Kind of...

Coming and going

- Is there a problem? - No

Tell me

What would you do if you saw the devil?

What?

You heard me

No idea...

Nobody'd believe me. They'd think I'm crazy

What else?

Isn't that enough?

Think about yourself. What would happen to you?

I'd think I was nuts

That's it

Fernando you're so weird sometimes

What you said reminded me of a film

where a woman gives birth to the Devil's son

Don't be stupid

1, 2, 3 testing...

1, 2, 3 testing...

This report is for...

after I die...

anyone interested in continuing my research into an uncharted world

This report will be, absolutely objective

Because I, Fernando Olmos...

will not be influenced by anger...

or passion...

or fear

Hello, how are you?

Hi Georgina

I'm so surprised. It's been a long time

- How are you? - I'm fine

Why didn't you call me? You just passing by?

Yes

That's such a pity. I have to go now

I'm showing an apartment to some clients

- Clients? - I got a job as a real-estate agent

It's a great job, I really like it

I find it very stimulating...

What's that?

A gift for Ana. I wanted to bring her something

Are you working?

Not exactly

Don't you worry. I can take care of myself

I have to go. I'll be done in a couple of hours

- I can't, I'm just passing by - 0Ok

Maybe next time

I'm so happy to see you

Me too

Really

I'm so silly

- Bye - Bye Georgina

- What is that? - A gift... It's for you

A doll...

But dad, I'm not a little girl anymore

It doesn't matter, I still like dolls

At night I make sure they're snuggled up properly and warm

What are you looking at?

- Me? - Yes, what are you looking at?

- You're wrong - I'm not

So why are you so nervous?

I wasn't looking, I swear

Who's going to buy some Band-aid from a blind man?

Buy some Band-aid from the blind man

Come on! Buy some! Buy some!

Band-aid! I'm blind!

Come on! The blind man wants to sell some!

What's up?

No one buying from the blind man?

Say, did you see a blind man?

A blind man?

Don't let the thought of losing your mind take over

I need you to come with me

- Now? - Yes, right now

Something I want you to see

Don't let madness take over

Fernando, tell me what's going on

I'm doing some kind of...

research

It's something very important to me

Not only for me

And...

you're my only friend

So I must ask you something

If anything happens to me

Whatever it may be

You must take care of some tapes I recorded

You must hide them

Make sure no one can find them

- But what...? - It's...

very important, Hector

It's paramount that no one knows where they are

The tapes are at this address

No one must ever find them

And if you can...

try to...

publish the tapes

It's very important

But if nothing happens to me...

just forget about it

- But... - Just forget about it

It's just in case...

something happens to me

And may God forgive me

Wait, I'll buy a newspaper

- He tried to kill me! - But he flashed the lights to warn you!

- Didn't you see the driver? - No, it all happened so fast

Madness...

- I think this is the wrong room - 0OK

You realize that even now I'm as lucid as the next guy

I didn't know you were a painter

Yes, but I have to play the violin in a bar to make a living

Like van Gogh...

I'm a misunderstood artist

You know how much those paintings will be worth when [ die?

Not a fucking penny

They are shit

I like this one

Of course...

Of course you do, she's a fox

She's a nympho

And there's something really special about her...

She's blind

And also a slut

If you knew the things she does to her husband

I never ever saw things like that before

What does she do?

No, no... you didn't hear it from me

If you want to meet her come see me tomorrow

What time is it?

8:55

It's the third time you asked that

What's going on?

I think I'm about to make a breakthrough

On that research I told you about

How's that going?

Imagine a spy

Someone who has to remain anonymous...

in an enemy country

A terrible enemy

And that spy has no contacts in that country

S0 he thinks his mission is an impossible task

Because he cannot get any information

Until one day, he meets someone from that hostile country

Someone with passions like anybody else

Someone who hates,

who hates other people in his own country

And if he hates them... he might betray them

If he betrays them, he betrays the whole organization

So the security of the organization can be breached

May I ask what's the subject of your research?

Evil

Couldn't you find a better job?

I'm sorry

Olmos

Would you like to meet the lady I told you about?

Luisa...

Here's an admirer of yours

- Hi - Pleased to meet you

He really liked the portrait I made of you

It must be very pretty then

- See you later - Nice to meet you

- What's going on baby? - Nothing, nothing

- Is there anyone else here? -No

- Hi - Hello

I'm here to see Hector, I was told he's sick

- Let's get a coffee - 0Ok

What would you think if someone told you

that there's a sinister cult no-one knows about

that controls the world

I would think he's insane

Of course

Why don't you let me help you?

Why?

Do you think I'm crazy? Or having paranoid delusions?

No, but you don't listen to other people

- I'm listening to you now - No you're not

For the first time in my life I feel that...

And you didn't even notice

May I help?

Thanks

Dimitri introduced us this morning

- This is a strange coincidence then - Well, it wasn't pure chance

Really?

He told me a lot about you

He's like a brother.

He always says good things about me

Shall we go to my house?

The light doesn't work. I don't need it anyway

If you want you can open the shutters

Don't worry about him

He can't move

That son of a bitch deserves this

Once he was so jealous, he tied me to a chair

to listen to him fuck another woman

How did he tie you up?

It was before he fell down the stairs

There was nothing I could do to help him

Poor guy

Did you like her?

Is she blind from birth?

Yes, I think so

Once we were talking about colors and she told me so

She had no fucking idea about colors

And her husband?

- The cripple? -Yes

No. He got blinded afterwards

- Afterwards? - After they got married

Be extremely careful... It might be a trap

Who is it? Who is it? Who is it?

- Who were you talking to? - No-one

- Who was it? - No-one

- I wasn't talking to anyone! - I heard you!

No-one!

- Stop lying! - wasn't talking to anyone!

Tell me or I'll kill you!

They...

want to drive me crazy

A lunatic is not dangerous for them

Because...

no one believes a lunatic

Fernando!

Fernando. How are you?

Where've you been all this time?

We were worried. Even the landlady was asking about you

Really?

She wondered if you were going to leave the apartment

I'm still paying rent, it's OK

Don't get angry, she was just asking

You and Dimitri weren't around

What? Dimitri?

He disappeared some days ago

Left his paintings and clothes, everything

Did you search for him at work?

Yes, but he's not going to work either

I hope he's alright

He's a heavy drinker, so...

We should probably notify the police about it

Why are you laughing? It's not funny

No, it's not funny

Not funny at all

Such villainy

No one is going to believe it until they kill me

And they probably won't believe it then either

The best trick the devil has, is to convince everybody he doesn't exist

And the sect, which is his instrument, convince people it doesn't exist

I'm so scared

And I'm all alone

I don't want to bother you but...

Norma is worried about you

- She's afraid that you... - I know, I know

That I might be crazy

That's exactly what they want

They?

Yes

Blind people

Oh my god!

Call an ambulance! For god's sake!

Oh God...

Call an ambulance!

Couldn't you come here before?

How is he?

He's blind. You knew it, didn't you?

He doesn't know it yet

Go talk to him

He's been asking for you all day

Is that you Fernando?

They are merciless

And they use other people's mercy to hurt them

This is war

And in war, the one who has mercy...

loses

What am I going to do?

Don't worry

I'll take care of you

What about blind people now Fernando?

Don't be an idiot

Now that I'm blind, will they recruit me?

Fernando...

Can we go somewhere else?

Do you hear me? - Yes

I was saying we could go somewhere else

No, it's better here

Hi Fernando

How did you know?

By the way you walk

Of course

Everything OK?

Yes

Don't worry about it

Would you like some water?

How's that research of yours going?

Good

Blind guys are still motherfuckers, right?

Come on

You know that's not true

Really?

You know it

I don't

Hector

You're a really nice person

And there must be other blind people like you

People that don't belong to the sect

I think there's something wrong with you

Very wrong

What's worse is I chose to believe you

It's so hot in here, I'll open the door

Mr. Olmos. Please come in

- Thanks - Please, have a seat

So, how is he?

Not very well

Quite bad

Of course

I'm here to talk about him

A charitable organization was supposed to send some people to see him

We might love him, but he needs specialized personnel to assist him

Of course, you can't take care of a blind man for the rest of your life

The thing is, they should have come already

Should we call them?

That man who just left...

Oh that one?

No. He works for City Hall

It's outrageous

He spent two hours inspecting the place,

but if you call them for any reason they never show up

They only think of collecting fines

You didn't ask them to send him?

No, why would I do that? I didn't knew he was coming

Can you believe it?

I see...

I see it clearly

Pay attention, don't be naive

There are no coincidences

The people of the organization came today and offered him a job

They asked me to convince him to take the job

He's having a second interview

Where's it going to be?

Oh... they didn't say

And when will it happen?

Tomorrow at 6PM. How exciting!

Come in

How are you?

Fine

Did you have any visitors?

No. Why do you ask?

No particular reason

Really?

The end is near

I've taken all possible precautions

but my chances of surviving this are small

This report is intended,

after I die,

for anyone with the courage to continue this research