Original subtitles

- Are you leaving for school? - Yeah.

- When did you get here? - You know when I got here. You heard me come in.

- When’s the graduation ceremony? - I dunno.

- When’s the last day to pay the college registration fee? - I dunno.

Are you going dressed that way?...

It’s the last day of school… at least make an effort to look a little better, María.

María…

…goodbye María…

...amazing...

...and that I love you very much...

...and that no one compares to you.

I hope some day...

...someone will notice you...

...and realize how amazing you are.

- Oh, hi. - Hi.

- What’s up?

- What’s up? - Are you going to the party later on?

- No. - Why?

I dunno… I don’t feel like it…

- Hey, I can’t today… - Is your mom home?

- No, but I don’t feel like it… I’m doing something.

- But we’re here already… come on, just me.

- No, I told you no…

- Well, fine. But just you.

- So? How was it? - Fucking great!

- What do we do now? - I dunno, go to the movies.

Let’s go then.

Your attention please. United Buses announces its departure at 23:30...

...to the city of...

United Buses thanks you and wishes you a pleasant journey…

Your attention please, United Buses announces its departure at 23:30 to the city…

Hi María…

I’ve seen you traveling...

...the graduation party...

... was great...

...we all danced...

... until the sun came out.

Eat well.

- Can I seat here?...thank you…hi.

- Hi

- Rosita... nice to meet you. What’s your name?

- María. - Oh, nice to meet you María…

What are you eating? oh sandwich… I just want a coke…

Can you bring me a coke please?...

- And what was all that writing about? - Nothing.

- Nah… you’re not from here, are you? - No.

- Do you like Los Mochis? - Ahah…

- Can you do me a favour?, Can you hold him for a second?

- No, hey, no… - Just a second.

- Hey, no, wait! No. - Just for a second, don’t worry, I won’t be long

- Thank you, thank you. - No, wait.

Thanks.

Let me take him. Come Roland.. .. thanks for holding him.

My God, this young man is so insistent…

Don’t get me wrong, don’t think I leave my little Roland with just anyone.

You seem trustworthy…

... so you’re not from around here?

- Mmm… - So where are you from?

- From Mexico City. - Oh, from Mexico City?

I’m from the State of Mexico, very near… so what are you doing here?

- I aah… I’m visiting some relatives. - Oh. Do they live far?

- Furhter North. - And how many days are you staying here?

- Just one, I guess. - Oh yeah? And what are you doing after that?

- I’m gonna keep traveling. - Mm…keep traveling?

Look at Roland. He’s almost one year old. I’m 21. How old are you?

- Eighteen. - Oh, eighteen?

Well, I think you’re too young to be traveling on your own.

I mean, that’s your business, but…you’re leaving already?

- Yeah. - Me too…let’s go out together then…

Hey, can you lend me some money for my coke, please?... Thanks.

- Well, see you then… - See you.

Thanks. Take care… say bye to María, Roland…bye, take care.

- Excuse me, did you see a notebook over there?..

I’m sure I just left it there. I just went out and left it there.

Are you sure? Maybe you dropped it.

- What happened? - I can’t find my notebook.

- Your notebook? - Yeah. I left it there and now I don’t know where it is.

Excuse me, did you see a notebook? How come?

It was right there, on the table. A black notebook with drawings.

Yes, it was there all this time. I’m sure you’ve got it.

Give it back. What do you want it for?

Come on, give it back to her.

- Yes, here it is. - Thanks a lot.

- I knew you had it. Let’s go.

Damn woman! I saw you quarreling with the waitress so I came back…

What the hell did she want your notebook for?

I tell you, people around here are like that, very abusive.

What the fuck did she want your notebook for?!

- Thanks a lot. - No problem…so what are you gonna do now?

- I guess I’ll find a hotel. - No no no, come to my house.

I live by myself with Roland.

- I don’t want to bother you.

No way. The hotels here are really crappy, and the people...

you just saw how…how crazy they are, so come on, come with us.

- Ok…ok. - Come. come this way.

- Come in, come in. - Thanks.

- Close the gate, please. And leave the door open.

- Hold on a second.

- Come in, come in. Sit down. - Thanks.

- Leave your backpack over there. Do you want some water, a soda, a beer?

- Soda. - Is coke alright?

- Yeah, thanks.

- Well, I’m having a beer...

- Here.

- Thanks.

These are gifts from my wedding. We couldn’t open them because...

...Roland’s dad had to go...

... but I’m waiting for him to return so we can open them.

It’s small, isn’t it? But I have a hard time paying all the bills.

- For the house? - Well, yes.

The rent, the electricity, stuff, baby clothes...

... Here, take it.

Thanks.

Roland’s dad went to the USA...

... ‘cause he couldn’t find a job here...

and over there, he gets paid in dollars, see? We didn’t have a choice.

- How old is he? - Who?

- The father? - Oh...

... he’s about twenty-two or twenty -three

But you know? I don’t like Roland being here without his dad.

But since he couldn’t find a job…

... Well… I do need him around here, you know?

Besides, they have to do nasty jobs over there.

The truth is I do miss him sometimes….

When we were going out he was always by my side. He even cuddled me...

... so yeah, sometimes I feel lonely.

That’s why when you said you were visiting your relatives…

That’s really nice, visiting your family.

If everything turns out alright, he’ll come and spend Christmas with us.

- Hopefully. - Yeah, hopefully…

I’m gonna make the baby some food. Whatever you need…

You can lie down and rest if you want. Feel at home.

Do you know how to talk?...

I think you do know how to talk…

besides, you’re very pretty…really…

Really…

I’m talking to you…

Don’t you want to leave this place?...

Let’s go to my house, it’s beautiful…

I have a pool…

Don’t you like swimming?...

Do you like swimming?

Come on…

It’s large, it’s beautiful.

- Have you seen what María did? - Yeah, she crossed the line this time.

- She’s a whore.

Hi mom, yes, it’s me.

I’m fine, I’m fine, my cell phone was off, I’m on a trip….

The graduation trip…

Yeah sorry…

I said I was sorry. I don’t know, I don’t know why…

The graduation trip, yeah, they’re all here.

Yeah, my classmates and teachers, everyone’s here.

Well, from my card… I had some there…

I’m telling you I don’t know. Because I’m crazy, because I’m stupid… I dunno…

Oh mom, don’t cry…

Forgive me…. I’m fine, don’t worry…

No, I’m not alone, with friends...

I told you, from my card…

No, I don’t now when I’ll be back...

No, no, I’m not going back right now…

’cause the trip isn’t over yet...

What?...

Because I don’t want to.

Why do you always have to say that?... Fuck.

María fucks anyone. She’s a whore.

- Excuse me, do you know if the bus to Topolobampo stops here?

- Yes. It’ll be here any minute. - Thanks.

- Excuse me.

- Excuse me.

- Hey, we’re here. - Sorry, I fell asleep.

- Thanks. - You’re welcome.

- Well… good-bye.

Hey!

Are you hungry?... do you want something to eat?

- Ok.

- Do you still have a long way to go? - A few more days.

- But they go by quickly, right?

- Are you taking the ferry to La Paz? - Yeah. Are you?...

I’ve never been on a boat, so at least I want to get on the ferry….

Do you have a ticket?

- No. Do you? - No,

But we can buy it together.

I mean, we’ll be traveling all night and we’ll get there at dusk.

We can arrive together. It’s safer that way.

Yeah…

Yeah.

Aren’t you scared of crossing the border on your own?

Well, yeah, but when I reach the border I still have to wait…save some money.

You know what you’ll be doing over there?

A friend has been there for a while, working at a restaurant.

Maybe he can find me something.

- That’s swell. - It is.

- Have you been to the USA? - Yeah. I was there when I was younger.

- How is it?

- Well, I only visited a few places.

I went to Disneyland and some shopping malls…

There was a lot of traffic… and huge toy stores.

How cool.

Hey Juan...

...do you usually meet people like this and talk to them like this?

No, almost never. It’s the first time. What about you?

Never…

The other day when I got home from school...

...I was in my room...

...and I realized I hadn’t talked to anyone in two days.

- To anyone?

- No one.

- Not a word?

But it's Ok.

What?

- Meeting people like this and talking like this.

- Well, yeah, right?

Juan?

I was thinking we could, if you want, share a hotel room.

On separate beds.

Yes, it would have to be that way, but no, I couldn’t.

- Why? - I’m just too shy.

Besides, my room’s gonna be ugly.

Why? Do you know in which hotel you’re staying?

No, not yet, but I know it’s gonna be cheaper and you must like a nicer place.

But we’d split the bill, so you’d pay the same for staying at a nicer place….

And anyway, I don’t want a five star hotel or anything fancy.

Yeah, but still… I'm to shy. Really.

Alright.

Well, O.K. You’re right. It’d be cheaper that way, wouldn’t it?

How's your house?

Well, it's normal.

Well, it's normal.

And your room?

The same, normal.

- But how is it? - The same, normal!

Juan, tell me something.

- Like what? - I don’t know. What were you thinking of just now?

A while ago, when we were walking down the road, I thought about my dad…

He got really angry when I left the house.

He said I could find a job without going so far away.

He didn’t want you to leave? Did he told you so?

Yeah, many times. So did my mom.

But we had no money…

So I looked for a job but couldn’t find one.

The only thing I could do for a living was sell drugs.

That’s what they do back where I live.

I don’t like it there.

All my friends have either crossed the border, or they’re in jail, or dead.

My parents would freak out all the time...

...‘cause we had no money…

Once I went into the bathroom and found my dad crying there...

And when he saw me he shoved me out and yelled really nasty things at me.

He was angry all the time, shouting all the time,

and when I left, he didn’t even say good-bye to me.

He locked himself up in the bathroom.

He did that all the time.

He’d spend whole days locked up,

so we didn’t say good-bye.

What about you? What do you think about?

Nothing…

Once I dreamt I was on the seashore…

It was daytime, but everything was dark,

and I’d turn around to see the sun but it was black,

...but there was light, and it was very cold,

...and I knew that inside the sea,

... there was a whale looking at me, as if it were waiting for me,

...and behind me stood my mom, and I’d turn around to look at her...

...and she’d be laughing at me.

There was nothing funny, but she’d be laughing at me.

So I’d turn around and get into the sea,

and I’d feel the whale’s fins drawing me closer to it,

and its mouth would open and I’d get inside.

There was a lot of light and warmth inside it,

...and everything was wet,

...and I could feel how we’d travel for many kilometers under the sea...

...and I could see the bottom of the sea through its stomach.

How nice!

But my mom was laughing at me.

María...

I just wanted to tell you a little something…

... you are amazing.

I am sitting at the lagoon…

I have to wait but I’ve arrived at last.

A SECRET WORLD