WLEXT.IS
Tetouan, January 1937
What do you think, girl?
Do you think it's good for a couture workshop?
Do you like it?
Will you disapprove of this, too?
The owner is wonderful.
It costs 375 pesetas a month.
Darling.
Are you listening to me?
It's perfect.
I can't imagine a better place than this.
So? Why the long face?
I'm thinking about my mom.
She wouldn't believe it.
Wonderful.
You really miss her, right?
All the time.
I hope that someday she'll forgive me.
Don't be silly.
Mothers forgive everything.
How can she forgive me? I can't forgive myself.
You know what?
We've all made mistakes, at least once.
Big mistakes.
But you should never look back, only forward.
What you must do now is to struggle for this business.
You must make your mom proud of you again.
- You're right. - Of course.
Of course I'm right.
Keep going. Let's do it.
I have never seen a couture workshop.
I have no idea what we need. Tell me, where should we start?
The saloon first.
It represents a house.
I think that...
it should look elegant.
- Refined. - Really?
How can we achieve that?
With not so many things.
But with style and with the best quality.
[Time in Between Episode 4]
- It's soft, isn't it? - It's great.
I find it comfortable.
- There? - Level it a little bit.
- Not that much. - I think it's fine!
It's good cloth right? The best quality.
Take this!
It looks fancy indeed, girl.
Clients will feel like queens.
We haven't finished yet.
We need foreign fashion magazines.
Vogue, Vanity
Madam Figaro.
We need very fine cloths.
Three or four fine pieces will be okay.
Whatever you may need, darling. Why are you speaking in plural?
You're like: 'we need,' 'we have'...
I mean, you and I.
- Won't you be here with me? - I won't.
I have work at the pension.
- But... - Nothing!
I already have a reputation.
I'm not the type of woman we need as a customer.
So I'll provide the materials, you'll supply your hands.
Then we'll split the money. That's an investment.
I can't do all this alone!
Jamila will be here with you.
- Sira. - What?
I hope you won't get mad about what I'm going to say
but there's something that doesn't fit the decor.
What is that?
Look at your hair and dark circles.
No one has to know about what you've gone through.
Sadness prevents money making.
Like this one. I want something like this.
I don't know. Miss...
You told me you used to comb hair at the inn.
Yes, but I never used something like this.
It might burn your hair.
Let's do this. Don't be afraid.
- Still not ready? - I'm coming.
I'm getting nervous and all.
How do I look?
- Gorgeous! - Darling!
You look elegant, very classy.
But why don't we show a little bit of flesh?
- Do you think so? - Of course, girl.
Elegance isn't contradicted by joy.
- Here you are. - What is this?
Nothing, I just brought you a piece of something.
- Do you like them? - They're wonderful.
Try them. Let's see if they fit.
Let me see...
- How did you guess my size? - I'm a good observer.
Now you don't have any excuse to walk securely through life.
I'm ready.
Fine, walk a little bit. We'll watch.
- Now? - Of course.
Girl, you'll drive Tetouan crazy.
Jamila, run, open the door.
Run, but be calm.
Overall we need to be calm.
I see things are working perfectly.
I do what I can.
I started working. Tomorrow I'll open this workshop.
What is it exactly that you do?
I sew. I'm a dressmaker.
I sewed in Madrid. I've done this all my life.
I get you. It's honorable work.
Who are you working for now? If may I ask that.
For nobody.
I work for myself.
May I ask how it is you managed to put together
this business by yourself?
- Someone borrowed some money for me. - I see.
You were very lucky.
Could you please tell me who did such a generous favor for you?
Candelaria.
The innkeeper.
Right.
That's interesting.
I didn't know that her business was so profitable these days.
Look, Don Claudio...
you told me to work. That's what I'm doing.
This is a decent job. It's not entertainment.
It's not a cover for something immoral.
What happened to me during this year
was because of a bad man.
But there's no way back.
Now his problems are mine.
But the only way I can get rid of them is sewing.
I'm not good for anything else.
As soon I earn enough money to leave Tangier and the war is over
I'll go back to my mother.
I won't bother you ever again.
But until then, I beg you
keep your foot out of my neck, don't smother me before I start.
You won't gain anything, and I will lose it all.
Have you finished?
All right.
I'll let you work in peace.
For now.
If nothing else happens, I won't investigate where the money came from.
That doesn't mean I won't keep an eye on you.
Is that clear?
Very clear.
Okay.
I hope that we both will be able to avoid trouble.
Miss, Jamila can prepare you some tea.
Yes, thank you. I'll change clothes.
Leave the kitchen door open, that way you can hear the bell.
Clients may arrive at any time.
That's it, Mom. You want me to accompany you to the doctor
but all you want is to go for a walk.
- You're strong like an oak. - Sure thing.
You wanted me to die.
You can't wait for the moment you can get me out of your sight.
- Coward, you're a coward. - Stop it, Mom.
Don't talk nonsense. We have enough already.
Good afternoon, neighbor.
- Is your bell broken? - I wish.
No, no. It works.
I need to rest, but you don't ever let me.
Sure, Mom, sure.
Whatever you say.
Come on.
What are you doing?
- I'm going out, Jamila. - Do you want something from the street?
- I'll go for you. - No, no. It's not that.
I'm going to Luneta to see Candelaria.
I need her to call some contacts. I don't know.
I need to be known somehow.
If not, this workshop will die before it's born.
Calm down.
Be calm. Go open the door.
Guten Tag. My name is Frau Heinz.
I need some clothes.
It's a pleasure. I am Sira Quiroga. Nice to meet you.
Come on in, please.
Sit down.
Bring us some tea, Jamila.
Well, I need two
jacket suits, okay?
And two evening dresses.
Perfect.
I can show you some models, to see if you like any of the styles.
All these magazines?
It's been so long that I haven't seen these here in Tetouan.
I like this one.
Nina Ricci.
I also need a...
a tennis suit.
Can you add that to my order?
One more, of course.
Thank you.
Our first client, Jamila!
She ordered four suits. No, five! She also asked me for a tennis suit!
And how's a tennis suit made?
I don't know.
Candelaria says you have all the fashion magazines
- in Tetouan. - There aren't any more?
Let's see.
I can't believe I didn't find a single woman's tennis suit.
There's one here!
- What is it? - This magazine is very old, from 1937.
I can't show this to a client.
I need someone to copy the model for me.
- Do you know how to draw? - No.
Hi, Don Anselmo.
I see.
How well you're doing since you moved out of here.
- Do you know where Candelaria is? - No clue, girl.
You know she's always going from place to place like a lizard.
Is something wrong with you, girl?
- Do you know how to draw? - Me?
No way, I have never drawn.
I need someone who knows how to draw
to copy some models from a magazine.
Go to Bertucci's school.
Yes? And will that Bertucci be able to draw what I need?
What's wrong with you?
Bertucci is Morocco's greatest painter.
Almost all seals and tourism posts of the protectorate
have been printed from his drawings.
- Do you want some water? - Thanks.
- I am okay. - Really?
You need to ask for any of his students' help.
Where's that school at?
- Excuse me. - Let's see.
My gorgeous neighbor.
Do you come as a model or to find inspiration?
Models are preferred here with a little less clothing.
But it'd be a shame to take all that elegance away. A shame and a pleasure.
Excuse me?
I'm sorry, I mismatched my words.
You look a little confused.
Can I help you?
I need someone to make some drawings for me.
What are they of?
I'm a fashion designer, as you know.
I have some photos from some years ago
and I need someone to make some drawings from those.
- Do you have the photos with you? - Yes.
Can I see them?
Maybe I can help you.
Of course.
- These ones. - Schiaparelli.
The surrealists' muse. Interesting.
I love her attitude. Don't you?
Do you know who could draw those for me?
I think I can help you.
Good morning, Sheriff.
Tobacco will kill you, Palomares. You lose your breath after four steps.
After four steps? No way. I just found Medina.
I went to take a break
and look what I found.
What is this? - That's from a new moneylender.
He flew like hell as soon as he saw me. I yelled at him
that he might escape once, but not twice.
And that I never forget a face.
That's good money.
I was thinking of taking one. The good thing is I am trustworthy, if not...
They must cost a lot. I don't know much about jewelry, but I have a good eye.
What?
What are you doing?
This bracelet already has an owner.
Good evening, darling.
- I hope I'm not bothering you. - Don't worry, I was still awake.
I brought you some things.
- Come in, please. - Thanks.
I guess you find them okay.
I find them amazing.
Tell me how much I owe you, please.
Your thanks are enough.
Consider it a welcome gift.
Mom says we must be polite to neighbors.
And she likes you more or less.
I think she finds you... how did she say? Very determined and...
yes, a little frivolous.
Félix!
God. The witch woke up.
I'll go back to the dungeons.
- Good night, darling. - Good night.
Wonderful!
Is that good?
I like it a lot!
Latest fashion, right?
Yes, yes, of course.
I'll recommend you to all my friends.
- You're very kind. - Bitte schön.
Bitte schön to you.
Go open the door, Jamila.
Another client.
- Madam Quiroga? - Yes, that's me.
I'm friends with one of your clients, Frau Heinz.
- Sure. - My name is Roselyn de Fox.
- Sorry to show up so suddenly. - Don't worry.
- Very nice to meet you. - Very nice to meet you, too, Sira.
Look, I need a fashion designer urgently.
So you and I are... how do you say this?
Condemned to do business.
My God.
Wonderful! It's marvelous.
Do you like it?
I love it!
You're an artist.
Like a Spanish Coco Chanel.
You're very kind.
- Would you like some tea? - Thank you.
I love tea with mint, but since I'm here
I've been dying for a cup of darjeeling.
- Did you leave England a long time ago? - Many years.
I've spent most of my life in India.
Don't you miss it?
A lot.
Curious, right?
We don't appreciate places until we're far away from them.
You've lived in many places?
Let's see, let me go over them.
I was born in England, but I was taken to Calcutta immediately.
At ten, they sent me back to England to study.
Then back to the East.
Some years ago, I spent a long while in Switzerland.
And from there to Portugal.
Well, I've lived everywhere.
You've had a very interesting life for being so young.
It depends on how you look at it.
I wanted to stay in India, but...
some unexpected things happened and
I needed to move.
Sometimes destiny makes some decisions for us.
That's life.
We're done with this. You can get dressed.
By the way, do you know where I can buy a swimsuit?
- For you? - No, no.
For meu filho, my son, my son.
- His name is Johnny. He's five years old. - Well.
I don't know. I just moved to Tetouan. I can't help you. I'm sorry.
It's all right. I'll find some place.
Madam?
Yes?
Happy birthday!
My sweetheart!
You came in with wine! Congratulations, my precious.
- Come on, let's go downstairs. - I don't need to drink.
- I'm worried about my husband. - And that face?
For your mother, right? Listen.
I'm sure she's fine, girl.
Even if she misses you, she has the peace of mind that you're out of there.
- Maybe you're right. - Of course I am! Let's drink some wine!
Let's cheer up a little!
- Will you drink or not? - More or less.
- Come on, cheer up. - I'm wearing the dress you made for me!
- You look great! - Have you seen?
- Spanish omelet! - Did you make it?
No, no!
- Candelaria. - I knew it!
- Happy birthday, girl. - Thank you very much.
I'm sorry you have to celebrate it with us.
Why?
- You're like my family here. - Thanks.
Don't give a single drop to my little Juan!
It goes up to his head and there's no filter.
- He just says nonsense. - Mom, let me tonight, please.
- No, no. Shut up! - It's just one night!
Don't be a vinegar, let the kid drink!
- Sure. - Listen, Juan.
You know what? We'll do a toast for your mother!
- No, no. - For Sira's mother!
For everyone's mothers!
Long live the mothers who gave birth to us!
Long live you, too, Candelaria!
I'll go for the food, if not...
Go, eat! The omelet is great!
Go eat a little!
I have a little problem.
What is it?
Frau Heinz liked my suits so much that she recommended me to all her friends.
And where's the problem?
Many of them are asking for bills in German marks, and I have no clue.
Do you know how to make that?
Me?
No clue, darling, no clue.
Víctor, don't drink any more.
I need shelter.
I'm scared of storms.
I'll give you political asylum if you help me.
Of course.
Do you know how many pesetas equal one mark?
Darling, come on. You insult me.
If we'll be handling numbers
you'll have to invite me for a whiskey first.
Whiskey?
- I have no whiskey. - No?
Well.
Well, I'll bring it myself.
And that's my sad story.
The poor boy with no father that stayed to take care of his mother.
A depressive and hysterical woman, but a very good person.
And, little by little, she forgoes her dream of flying to Tangier.
To Madrid.
And studying the history of the arts.
It's so hard to live a model son's life in the mornings
and a fugitive noctambulant's life at night.
At least the anise helps me to deal with my mother.
Because...
that was my secret plan.
To poison her little by little with anise.
But nothing, darling. Her liver is as it was on the first day.
If Freud discovered me, he'd be happy with me.
- Who? - Freud.
The man, psychoanalysis...
You don't know Freud, you don't know surrealism.
Let's see, darling.
You have a great style.
You sew like an angel.
But you aren't really well versed in general knowledge.
- I'm not versed at all. - Well, I can solve that.
I'll give you classes. You
bring the whisky, and I'll turn you into a scholar.
What's a scholar?
We have a lot of work ahead of us.
We'll enjoy this.
My dear seamstress queen, welcome to your first general knowledge lesson.
What do you know about Morocco?
It's in Africa.
Why are us Spaniards here?
Come. Let's go.
It all started in 1906.
Spain and France made a pact at the Algeciras Conference.
But France gave us the worst part of the country.
Africa's rump.
Spain governs the protectorate in order to revive the imperial dream.
Since we lost the Philippines and Cuba
the treasury became as poor as a cockroach.
Spain provides Morocco with equipment and healthcare.
They provide us thousands of soldiers. Get it?
- Yes. - Very good.
You should hang a big French name over your door. Sira's House of Couture.
Sira, Sira is a great name.
You know how to improve it?
With an 'h' at the end of it. Sirah! Sirah!
It can be pronounced as if it were French.
You must rest now.
I don't want to imagine how that trip was.
From now on, this will be your house. You have three floors.
But the stairs are easy to climb.
Here you won't miss anything.
Amalia will be so happy to see you entering her door.
- Who are they? - Mom!
Mom!
Maria's mother and niece.
It seems they finally arranged their trip from Madrid.
From Madrid?
I thought it was impossible.
I think there's always a way.
How are you?
I've waited my whole life for this. You are so tall now!
Are you hungry? We have everything you want.
- Palomares. - Sheriff.
This is Nuñez, the moneylender I told you about. I told you they may run once.
But not twice. I never forget a face.
I will talk clearly.
We know that the pieces we registered were stolen.
With all due respect, Sheriff
that's impossible. Every single jewel is of a noble origin.
And that's why you fled in such a rush?
Your men didn't identify themselves properly.
I thought they were... Look...
my business is legal. All my customers are good people.
They're wealthy people with a concrete financial issue.
But there's a reputation preceding them.
The woman who gave me that jewel is a marquise.
The marquis of my balls.
Save the lies for yourself!
Nuñez.
Nuñez!
To the point.
Where did you steal it from?
I didn't steal them!
I just bought them, I swear!
At the Luneta
- a couple of weeks ago. - Who sold them to you?
You know what? Let's see if a week in prison
refreshes your memory.
- Palomares. - Come here!
All right, all right.
All right.
It was a tall brown man.
He seemed strong. He didn't look like a thug, I swear.
This man?
Yes.
- Was I good? - You were.
Well...
you won't receive the Nobel yet, but you're smart.
You learn quickly, that counts.
What should we do now?
Music?
Mathematics?
The next assignment is...
you.
- Me? - Let's go through this, darling.
For now, you've been acting like a classy dressmaker in front of foreign customers.
But when a Spaniard arrives and asks a couple of questions
you'll fall down like a house of cards.
Let's see, who were your clients in Madrid?
Well...
we attended to many women from Salamanca.
But they weren't exactly my clients.
I see. Well, don't say that.
If someone asks
you made a lovely dress for
the marquise of Puga. She wore it at the Iron Door party.
You made a divine dress
for the first daughter of the counts of Encinal.
- Did I? - Of course, don't you remember?
The trick is to mention names like you mean it.
Next question. What will you do if someone asks about your past?
I'll keep quiet and change the subject.
Don't think about it. You'll come off as unfriendly.
- Like you had something to hide. - What should I say then?
I was an apprentice in a closed shop.
- They closed. - It's closed now.
I abandoned my fiancé and came to Tangier
with a bastard that took my money and ruined me? Come on!
Let's see.
You can't speak about your life.
- What should I do now? - Well, then...
do like Alejandro Dumas.
- Who is he? - A French writer.
Let's go.
We can invent a romantic version of your misfortunes.
What do you think about this?
You're the daughter of a broken millionaire.
You're engaged with a nobleman abroad. What was the man's name?
Ramiro, isn't it? Where is that bastard now?
- Argentina. - Argentina, perfect!
I can't lie that much. They'll notice.
Darling.
The greater the lie is
the more convincing you sound.
No one will notice.
So I decided to open the workshop.
It was really a whim.
It's... my entertainment.
Since my boyfriend is in Argentina...
Darling, I totally get you. This is the twentieth century.
Women can't spend their lives at home anymore.
And that Ramiro...
is he handsome?
- He's very handsome. - Miss, excuse me.
- Is something wrong, Jamila? - News from Candelaria.
She says you must go see her now at the pension. It's urgent.
- I came to see you - Sorry, Officer, I'm in a hurry.
- Can we talk later? - I'm afraid not.
- I have to go somewhere. - Sorry, do you recognize this?
Yes.
It's one of the jewels my dad gave me.
- Where did you find it? - We confiscated it from a moneylender.
A moneylender?
But Ramiro took them with him. To Argentina. You told me that.
You declared that your boyfriend took your money and jewels, right?
- Yes. - If he had money, he didn't need to
sell jewels to pay for his ticket on the ship.
- What do you mean? - In his position
it would be logical to leave with the jewels.
If the jewels are here, perhaps he is here, too.
Are you telling me that perhaps Ramiro didn't get on the ship?
It's too soon to conclude that...
but I wouldn't discard that possibility.
How is that possible?
It can't be!
Calm down, please.
At this moment I know as much as you.
But...
if he didn't want to leave
why did he buy that ticket?
Perhaps he wanted to mislead us.
Perhaps a problem emerged. We don't know.
Perhaps I've seen him on the street.
In the Luneta, or somewhere.
Be calm. If he's near Tetouan
we will find him soon.
I promise.
Darling!
It's such a disgrace!
Poor Don Anselmo, may he rest in peace.
I told him that the dog's cough wasn't a good thing.
Did he die?
Yes.
Didn't you know?
Then why the long face?
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed by Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is
in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation.
Here he is.
He fell in the real battlefield.
What's wrong with this girl?
You can't be under that bastard's boot.
That imbecile is out of your life!
Whether he's in Tetouan or China!
You're right.
As if I didn't have enough already.
Do you know something about what I told you?
I know that your neighbor Felix is right.
There are people moving others from the Republican zone to Tangier.
How?
Don't ask me that. I have no idea.
I know they spot people in the red zone.
Then they move them to an eastern port.
I don't know how, but they do it.
That's what I need in order to bring my mom.
There's a famous man in Tetouan.
He is unscrupulous and mad.
He takes advantage of others' misery.
Patricio Rubio.
He rules the entire business.
Where can I find him?
I don't think it will be easy.
You must know which doors to knock on, what calls to make.
- You were born for that. - Darling
it's one thing to get food or cloth.
This thing is very different.
The man is wrapped in money. He is from the upper class.
A simple woman like me would never be able to reach him.
There must be a way.
At least we know his name.
By the way...
your share, from the workshop.
English pounds, as we agreed.
Thank you, darling.
We won't save a single peseta.
What if the Nationals win the war?
We'll wipe our ass with them!
Let's go out now and pray for Don Anselmo.
Perhaps we can make him reach Heaven.
Move.
You don't have another bottle, right?
This is the last glass.
Your eyes are red.
Were you crying?
You can't fool me.
Remember the boyfriend I told you about?
It seems that the bastard is still here.
I see.
So that's why you cried?
I don't want to see him.
All right.
Do you want him to
find a poor girl in disgrace
consumed in tears
or to face a strong woman.
- You'll have to face him. - I can't. The mere idea overwhelms me.
Now it's his face that I see in every man out on the streets.
You know what?
- I hope that he appears. - Are you crazy?
Let's see.
Princess...
the only way to beat our demons
is to face them.
If you can't manage to face him
then you'll have nightmares for the rest of your life.
WLEXT.IS