It is your arm what awakes me up
Your voice is the first sound I listen to
Your breath is the only air I breathe
And all I see before I open my eyes is your sight

Every day I wake up next to you
Some mornings I leave you in a hurry
Some others, you are the reason of my delay

I could stop you from coming
‘Cause I know, sooner or later, you are leaving for God
When the time comes, I won’t miss you

But I’d rather you went away slowly
Even I know you have already gone away
And I will never have you again

Please, go and say
Say it like that
Say I cried
Say I sobbed
In regret
See, my disheartening is endless

Go and say
Say it like that
How miserable
I am
In my own misguided way
Say I’m all alone
And I can’t find my self

Say I’ve been on the edge
Say I am crazy
For forgiving her
Say that no matter how
For love or for mercy
She must came back

Please, go and say
Say it like that
That I stole
That I drunk
That I fell
That I don’t know
All I know is I’m tired
Of mismatching
Run and say
I surrender

tradução de ‘Descaminhos’ (Chico Buarque e Vinícius de Moraes)

The first time I met Valentina, it was next my place. I was about arrive at home. She was looking for something. Somebody, in fact, looking around and calling what I guess to be a name, in that ritm of voice one uses to call a child. The words? Impossible to understand or reproduce. I woudn’t even dare what language was that.

As she wasn’t desperate, I new the lost one couldn’t be a human been. I wonder for few seconds if I should offer help. There were too strange immigrants there. Some were very cheerful. Some so rude, as I haven’t the right do speak with them. And I wan’t able to distinguish the origin of them – according to my Russian roommate, it depends on they were from: Latin people were nice, eastern Europeans, reserved, muslins, chauvinists and don’t talking with woman unless they wan’t sell you something or think you are a prostitute.

A pretty soft voice woman doesn’t seemed to me so scary. “Can I help you. Did you lose someone?”

She stare at me a moment, didn’t say anything, turn her face and continued her search. Well, she was the rude kind. Never mind.

Two hours late, after I had lunch and take shower, I left home to my second work shift. The woman was there. Peacefully, looking nowhere. “Hi, lady!” I didn’t notice. It couldn’t be with me. “Hello, you there!” call again, louder. “Thanks for helping me find the cat.” As she said that I stopped walking. It was with me. What this dammed crazy woman is doing? Is she teasing me? Or did she regret the way she treated me?

“You’re well came. It’s a pleasure helping a sweet lady concerned by her lovely pet”, I said, trying to be the most ironic possible. She seemed surprise and confuse, keeping her eyes on me. Maybe my English, or hers, wasn’t good enough to make ironies. Maybe she was really sorry for her rudeness. So I add: “Brazilian humor..”, raising my shoulders. “Oh, I see… Anyway, he is not lovely. He is a beast.”

If she correct me he is not lovely, I suppose she accepted the other part of my sentence, being called a sweet lady. “The beast needs a beauty to became a prince”, I said, testing her again.“Haha! You are funny, Brazilian lady”, she said. “Yeah, I thing I am”, I said and turn back, continued walking to tube station.

“See you latter”, she insisted. It was clear it wouldn’t be our last meeting. And very soon it woud be clear she could be anything, but sweet.

‘SHE DECIDES’
SCENE 1
EXT – Street 1 – Central London – Day
A few people wait on a corner to cross the street. There are cars, taxis and buses passing (LS).
The light signal changes (CU). The people cross the street.
One young lady turn left and walks in a hurry, looking at her watch (LS and MS).
She is carrying a hand bag.
She arrives in front of a school building and stops. She opens the hand bag, looks inside and closes it. Then, goes into the building.

SCENE 2
INT – School – Day
She looks up and down the stairs, hesitates a few seconds and goes downstairs (FBS and CU).
There is a board on the wall with a list of names printed on paper (MS).
She looks for a name, touching her finger on the paper. She finds one name, stops her finger on it, trembling (CU).
She looks a little excited and nervous, biting her lips. She passes a door and looks at the room number.

SCENE 3
INT – School Library – Day
She (A) goes to the library, takes a book and pretends to read it. Her eyes look around at the glass door.
Some students open the door and come in.
The lady’s face changes when she sees a pretty young woman (FBS).
The young women (B) walks slowly and relaxed (MS). She takes a mobile out from her handbag and starts to phone someone. She doesn’t realize there is someone watching her.
The young woman leaves the library and goes out of the building. The first lady closes her book nervously (MCU) and tries to follow the other one. When she is almost opening the door, she realizes she forgot her handbag on the table and goes back to take it. Then, she walks quickly outside.

SCENE 4
EXT – Front of School – Day
The young lady (B) is still there, standing and talking on the phone, smiling. The other one (A) looks at her deeply (MCU, CU, ECU).
B turns off her mobile and puts it into her bag (FBS). Then starts to walk slowly.

SCENE 5
EXT – Street 2 – Day
She turns left and comes to a quiet street. She stands there, and stops with her back against a wall (MS).
The bad lady (A) arrives in the corner. (A) sees (B) and walks a step back, hiding her self.
B opens her bag and takes out a little mirror and a lipstick. She put it on her lips, arranges her hair. (MS and MCU)
(A) touches her handbag, moving her hand slowly and delicately. (A) closes her eyes.

SCENE 6
INT – kitchen – low light – Black & White
There are a woman’s hands taking a long knife. Touching the blade slowly and delicately. (CU)

SCENE 7
EXT – Street 2 – Day
(A) opens her eyes and looks at (B) again. (B) is finishing her make-up and putting the objects back in the handbag. A cold smile appears on (A)’s face. She whispers something (MCU).
(B) Starts to walk and the other follows her.
(B) Goes into a coffee shop (LS). (A) Stays out side, near there, waiting and observing the coffee shop door.
(A) Suddenly she turns her face and sees her image reflected in a show window. She looks at herself like she is surprised. (A) Looks at her handbag and her sweet young face (MS).
Her expression changes and she gives up (MCU). She turns back and starts to walk to the opposite side. She walks a while. Waiting for the light signal to change, (A) sees (B) on the other side of the street. (B) Has a happy, proud and self-confident face. (MS and MCU)
(A) Changes her mood again and cross the street, following the other lady. (MCU)
(B) Goes into a tube station and (A) as well (LS).
SCENE 8
EXT – Street 3 – Day
There is a tube station, (B) goes out, turns right (LS). Two seconds later, (A) goes out, looks left and right, locates (B) waits two seconds and follows her.
They keep walking.
(A) Touches her shoulders like she feels cold (MS). She looks at her watch. She walks a few steps more and looks at the sky (MCU). (B) Keeps walking calmly. (A) Touches herself on the nape of the neck as if she feels pain. (MS)
She breathes quickly, anxiously. Then, (B) starts to walk faster (FBS). (A) Does the same, trying to maintain the distance. Suddenly (B) meets a young man and stops. They seem happy to see each other and they talk.
(A) Stops as well and turn her face to them don’t notice her. She touches her handbag and closes her eyes.

SCENE 9
INT – kitchen – low light – Black & White
(A)’s hands put a knife inside her handbag and closes it very carefully (CU).

SCENE 10
EXT – Street 3 – Day
(A) Opens the eyes and looks at (B) and the guy. They say good-bye and go to opposite sides. (A) Follows (B). (A) Seems more confident now.

SCENE 11
EXT – Street 4 – Day
In a quiet street, (B) goes into a residential building. (A) Starts to cross the street, looking at the building.
Another woman (X) wearing black goes in there as well (LS).
(A) is crossing the street when the wind carries a newspaper in front of her feet. She stops, looks down. The cover talks about a crime (CU). She takes the newspaper and reads it.
Her expression is confused and sad. One tear rolls in her face (CU). She screws up the newspaper and throws it away (MS). She gives up, turns right and starts to walk.
She arrives on the corner and stops, closes her eyes.

SCENE 12
EXT – Front of School – Day – B & W (part of scene 4)
(B) Talks on a mobile, smiling.

SCENE 13
EXT – Street 2 – Day – B & W (part of scene 5)
(B) Pouts lips, arranges her hair.

SCENE 14
EXT – Street 3 – Day – B & W (part of scene 8 )
(B) Talks with her boy friend, smiling.

SCENE 15
EXT – Street 4 – Day
(A) Opens her eyes and has a determined expression, a killer expression (CU). She turns back and walks to (B)’s building. She goes inside.

SCENE 16
INT – Corridor – artificial light
(A) Walks in a corridor. She passes another lady (X) who is wearing black and seems to be hurried. (A) Finds the door which she was looking for. She stops and breaths deeply, closing her eyes.

SCENE 17
INT – kitchen – low light – Black & White
(A)’s right hand holds a knife firmly, like she is almost stabbing someone.

SCENE 16
INT – Corridor – artificial light
(A) Opens her eyes and puts her right hand gently on the doorknob. However, the door is already open and moves. She is surprised, curious, but goes in.

SCENE 16
INT – victim’s flat – low light, deep shadows
(A) Enters B’s flat. It’s quite dark (FBS). She thinks about turning on the light. She puts her hand on the switch but doesn’t turn it on (EUC). She walks carefully, slowly, trying not to make a noise. (MS)
Suddenly she stops and looks down. Her foot touches something. She puts her hand on her mouth, looks down. A starts to tremble (CU), breathes quickly. Her face is in conflict, in a kind of ‘cry-laugh.’ She uncovers her mouth and whispers something (MCU). She is panting and starts to repeat the word louder. She speaks in a strange language (Korean, Russian or Turkish).
Bad Lady (A)
Wake up!
(pause)
Wake up!
She repeats it louder and louder (MS)
Bad Lady (A)
Wake up!
She is shouting (FBS)
Bad Lady (A)
Wake up, your bitch!
The young victim is lying on the floor, murdered. (LS)

THE END

There are many things I can say about my vacation in Cuba. But two of them are the synthesis of my opinion. Neither social, economical nor political aspects are as unforgettable as the dogs or the skirts. If you open your mind you will see there is something more than coincident between economy and skirts.

First I have to tell you what I wondered when I was packing: Should I bring miniskirts to wear in a communist country? Aren’t Cuban people to conservative about clothes? Wouldn’t I cause embarrassment to locals showing almost my entire legs? After I asked myself those things I decided to bring just the two longest ones.

In the very first moment I left the plane I realized I couldn’t be more wrong. You don’t have that option in Cuba: all the skirts are really short. If there’s one democratic stuff there it is the miniskirts. All women wear it. No matter their shape or age. Neither their legs beauty.

All skirts seemed to be produced by the same company, a very mean one which saves as much fabric as possible. The less fabric used the more skirts they can make and the more women the can dress.

The dogs are the second topic. They are the ugliest of the world. Comically ugly, as if they were made of by different pieces of different breeds of dogs. As Frankstein’s pets.

Those ears, noses and heads seemed to have been drawn by a drunk cartoonist. Their fur distribution in the bodies wasn’t ordered. And the skin showing in different spots had different colors. Besides being esthetically unpleasant, they were weirdly nice, even friendly.