[soft piano music playing]
[Gloria] Your life started with a sacrifice.
A painful one.
A heartbreaking and unbearable sacrifice.
Your mother's.
That's why you're here.
That's why each and every one of us are here.
Have you ever thought about what it means to give birth?
The body is pushed to the limit,
covered in sweat.
Two beings divided.
And all of their cells working toward one single goal,
for you to come out,
for you to breathe.
[man] Good morning, welcome to Madrid.
Samuel Velardo?
Mm-hm.
[man] Are you here on vacation or for work?
Vacation.
[man] Traveling alone?
Okay, place your finger on the scanner, please.
[beeps]
- [man] All good. - Thanks.
[Gloria] When that happens, it's a miracle.
When a mother holds her baby tight against her chest,
and looks at them for the first time,
she immediately knows that she'll never be able to abandon them.
Because between them, there's a thread.
An unbreakable...
and invisible thread with which you can do only one thing,
tie it to your hands until they bleed, if necessary.
Whatever it takes, as long as you don't let it go.
[mysterious music playing]
HOLY FAMILY
[detective] Good morning.
[officer 1] Don't take the boxes, please. We're still collecting evidence.
[officer 2] We're going to need chemicals.
POLICE FORENSICS
[indistinct chatter]
They probably left a couple of hours ago, not much earlier.
[man] Detective, you should come down to the basement.
Looks like they had someone locked up.
I want photos of everything, every detail is important.
[man] Mm.
- [indistinct chatter] - [tense music playing]
[sighs] It's my fault. I shouldn't have picked up Aitana's call.
I put her on alert.
Don't worry about it. Maybe she would've left anyway.
What matters is that we're getting closer.
- Can I talk to you for a minute? - Yeah, sure.
[detective] It seems that Gloria Román was living with this girl.
Apparently, there was, um, a baby and a young male.
We can't determine their IDs yet.
[Enrique] So they were all involved?
[detective] That's how it seems. They couldn't have gone very far.
They have no other cars under their name, nor have they rented any.
And there are no reports of car thefts in the neighborhood.
The fastest and safest way for them to escape is by plane or train.
Public spaces.
- So what's next? - We have the stations under surveillance.
And a unit is on its way to the airport.
Find her.
Do whatever you have to do, but find her.
["El Chivo Sin Ley" by Ramón Isidro Cabrera playing on radio]
[Natalia] When I get to Buenos Aires, I'll send you the rest of the money.
What will you do now?
[Chino] I'll go find Edurne.
And then I'll stop for a minute.
I need to rest for a few months.
- Are you going to see your children? - That's all I want to do.
I haven't seen them in, like, almost a year.
- So make the most of it. - ["El Chivo Sin Ley" continues on radio]
- Make the most of your new life. - Thanks.
Chino.
The bad guys don't always win.
That depends on who's telling the story.
["El Chivo Sin Ley" continues on radio]
[ominous music playing]
- [somber music playing] - [ducks quacking]
[children laughing]
[Blanca screaming]
[bystander mutters]
I'd like to speak with Marga.
- I'm sorry, she's in a meeting. - It's urgent.
Tell her it's urgent.
- I'm Blanca, I need to see her. - Well, there's nothing I can do for you.
You can wait here if you'd like, okay?
Uh, where are you going? Ah! Sit down.
- Or what? You'll arrest me? Do it! - [sighs]
- At least I'll be able to see her. - Ma'am.
Calm down, please, okay? Wait here and I'll see what I can do for you.
[bittersweet music playing]
MADRID, SPAIN 1988
Blanca, the ultrasound looks normal.
But the blood test results have just come in,
and everything indicates that it's more than probable
that your child has Down syndrome.
That has to be a mistake.
It could be, couldn't it?
[clock ticking]
Turn around, I need to go to the airport.
There's nothing for us to do there, Felipe.
It's not a good idea.
If the cops arrest Aitana, I want to look her in the eyes.
- I have to see her. - It won't do you any good.
I'd better drive you home. You've been through a lot.
- You need to rest. - How can I possibly rest?
I have to be there.
She has to tell me why she did it.
I owe it to Marcos.
Turn around now. Please, Enrique.
[turn signal ticking]
[woman] Next, please.
Just a moment, I can't find my passport. Sorry. Go ahead.
[PA chiming]
- [Abel] What are you doing? - Where's mom?
- [woman] And are you checking any bags? - [softly] Fuck.
[woman] Ladies and gentlemen, sorry for the delay.
You will shortly be embarking on flight SA-1502 to Buenos Aires.
- [man] Hello, ma'am. - [woman] May I see your passport?
Thank you.
[man] Hello.
- [woman] Thank you. - [man] Thanks.
- [woman 1] Here you go. - [woman 2] Thanks.
Ah! If you have a stroller, we can take it down to the hold.
- [Natalia] No, thanks, I'll carry him. - Mm-hm!
- [woman 1] Passport, please? - [woman 2] Thank you.
[Gloria] Such a cute baby boy.
- [mysterious music playing] - [baby gurgles]
So charming too.
What the hell are you doing here?
There weren't many scenarios where you wouldn't lose.
So you are going to decide what we are going to do.
Fuck off, damn it.
Leave me alone or I swear I'll call the police and I'll report you.
Well...
That wouldn't be good for either of us.
I could go with you to Buenos Aires, talk to the police there,
and tell them what you did to your father.
Difficult, huh?
But better than ending up like him.
Maybe that's what you want.
You are trapped.
Accept it. So give me my son.
- No. - Get on that plane and disappear.
- Never. - [woman] Great, thank you.
- [Gloria] Excuse me. Excuse me. - Yes?
Could we sit together?
This is my friend and we have separate seats.
- We have some catching up to do. - [woman] No problem.
- It's not a full flight, so... - Thank you.
[dark music playing]
[phone dialing]
[line ringing]
- [line picks up] - Julia's here. Come back.
Now! See you in the parking lot.
I don't give a damn that it's crowded, Julia.
- I'll make a scene! - Do it.
Do it!
You think that scares me?
I have nothing left to lose.
Nothing.
[Marga] Blanca, it's not like I don't want to see you, just not now.
I'm really busy.
I'm not leaving until I speak with you.
[Marga] I'm sorry, I really am.
If it's about the case, Ramón should be here too.
I came here for another reason.
[Marga sighs]
[Marga] What is it?
Close the door, please.
Want something to drink?
Coffee? Water?
No.
I just want you to help me get this over with.
- It was me, Marga. - [somber choral music playing]
Lorenzo died because of me.
Blanca...
I don't know what you're getting at here,
and I get that you've been through a lot, really,
but it wasn't your fault, Blanca.
You can come up with reasons all you want, but it wasn't, okay?
It was me. I'm fucking telling you, okay?
I was there when my son fell into the water.
What do you mean you were there?
[somber music continues]
I was awake that night.
[Ramón] Buddy, listen to me. Lorenzo, listen to me.
- Buddy... - [door closes]
- [thunder crashing] - [somber music continues]
[Blanca] When I noticed that Lorenzo wasn't in his room,
or at home at all, I went out looking for him.
[shouting] Lorenzo!
[peacock squawking]
Oh, Lorenzo...
[Blanca] It wasn't the first time he left the house like that,
so I knew where to look for him.
[somber music continues]
[Blanca] And I found him.
In the park.
- [object rattling] - [somber music continues]
[Marga] Why didn't you save him?
[Blanca] I don't know.
[crying] When I saw him fall into the water, I couldn't move a muscle.
I just couldn't.
What about everything else?
Jesús wrote a letter with his confession.
And Gloria identified him.
Maybe they both lied.
Like I've been doing till now.
I swear on my son...
that man had nothing to do with it.
[crying] There was no one there but Lorenzo and me.
[clicks tongue in disbelief]
[door opens]
[Marga] Stay with her. Don't let her leave.
[phone ringing]
[ringing continues]
- Hello? - [Blanca] Alicia.
I'm at the police station. I need to see you.
- At the police station? - Yeah.
Why?
- What happened? - I can't talk right now.
But please come see me.
- Blanca... - [static on phone]
- Blanca! - [line disconnects]
[woman] Enjoy your flight.
[indistinct chatter on PA]
[dramatic music playing]
[indistinct chatter]
- It's getting really late. - I know.
Why isn't she here?
- Why don't we go look for her? - No.
What if she comes here and doesn't find us?
- But what if something happened to her? - Mom can handle anything.
Edu, what do we do?
I don't know.
[indistinct chatter continues]
[baby crying]
- [car approaching] - [brakes screeching]
Stop it, Julia, leave me alone!
[Pedro] Give her the baby.
- Give her the baby! - Who are you?
- [Pedro] Do it! - No!
- [Pedro] Give her the baby. - Give me the gun.
The kid.
- [Natalia] No. Julia, no. Please, no. - [Pedro] Come on.
[Natalia crying] I'm begging you. Nico...
[Pedro] Shh!
- You need to leave right away with Nico. - [baby crying]
Tell them to catch the next flight! Run!
No! No! No, Nico, please...
- [screams] Ow! Julia, ow! - [tires screeching]
Chino! Chino!
- They're taking Nico! Please! - [Chino] Take care of her!
- [Caterina] I got it. I got it. - [Natalia shrieks]
[Natalia muffled] No! No, let me out!
[muffled] Julia! Julia!
[dramatic music playing]
In another life...
we probably could've been great friends, Gloria.
[Gloria] What are you gonna do?
Nothing.
Do what you must, Julia.
See you.
[Natalia muted] Julia! Julia, please get me out of here!
Julia! Julia, listen to me!
[Natalia sobbing]
- [dramatic music continues] - [baby crying]
[bystanders] Hey! Watch out! Hey! Watch it!
[baby crying]
[dramatic music continues]
[gun cocks]
This one's mine, Chino.
Ahh! [groans]
- [Caterina] No! No! No! - [Chino grunting]
- [both grunting] - [baby crying]
[Caterina] Help me!
Kick him! Kick him!
[Chino groaning]
[Caterina] Enough!
Look at the good neighbor!
Do you know she was murdered?
Gloria murdered Claudia.
The junkie. Did you know about it?
She was a human being.
I should put a bullet in ya.
But you're better off taking care of my cauliflower, okay?
I'll be watching over your every move.
Get out of here!
Run! Run! Run!
We both know you won't do it.
[dark music building]
I'm sorry.
- [gun firing] - [officer 1] Up! Let's go upstairs!
- [officer 2] Police! Move! - [officer 3] Make way! Please make way!
[officer 4] Out of the way, miss. Step aside. National police.
- [officers clamoring] - [suspenseful music playing]
Don't worry. If she's here, we'll find her.
[Felipe] We'd better not lose them. I wouldn't forgive myself.
[suspenseful music continues]
[man] Next in line please. Sir?
I can't do this, I'm not going.
- What are you talking about? - I can't leave Mom behind.
- Mariana, just wait! She'll make it. - How can you be so sure?
Because it's Mom, she wouldn't let us down now.
You know what? Let's do this. You go in if you want.
But I'm gonna stay here and wait until she comes.
I won't go without her.
[woman] Next, please.
- Hey. - [woman] Good morning.
- Any luggage to check in? - No.
Passport, please.
[PA chiming]
- Are you flying to Toronto, Iván? Mm-hm? - Yeah, Toronto.
[woman] Boarding will start in 40 minutes at gate 42.
- Have a nice flight. - Thanks.
[woman] Next.
If she doesn't make it, you go through.
[officer] Come on in.
[Blanca] Alicia.
- Blanca... - No. They won't let me touch anyone.
And they're right.
Tell me it's not true.
- It is. - [somber music playing]
I don't want you to feel pity for me.
I don't deserve it.
[Alicia exclaims]
Alicia, I've asked myself a lot how we became friends
with us being so different.
I admire your bold way of seeing everything.
And I envy you.
For being so brave, I suppose.
Because you've always been certain
about what you want and don't want in your life.
I don't know.
I don't know why I didn't help him.
[crying] I don't know if it was because I was up to my eyes in pills...
or because deep down I always wanted it to happen.
Don't say that.
A mother would never believe she could make a mistake this awful.
I just wanted to protect him, Alicia.
But I was doing it for me.
Not for him.
I failed to see things from his perspective.
For nine years,
I thought my life was a struggle.
I guess the real struggle begins now.
[indistinct chatter]
[tense music playing]
We're looking for this girl. Have you seen her?
[indistinct chatter]
[chatter continues]
[PA chiming]
- [indistinct chatter] - [tense music continues]
[woman speaking indistinctly on PA]
Until now, no one under that name has boarded.
Apparently, the cameras didn't catch her either.
Maybe we should think about other options.
Other options? What options?
Maybe she's trying to leave the country some other way? I don't know.
"I don't know" is not a goddamn option, is it?
Fuck! What would you do if it was your brother?
The fuck are you doing?
Keep searching, damn it!
- [officer] Have you seen this person? - [Felipe] Hey! Hey!
- Sorry. - [officer] Pardon me, miss.
- Do you recognize this person? - Shit. Damn it.
[officer 1] Okay. Excuse me, police. Excuse me.
[officer 2] Police. Step aside, please, sir.
[officer 1] Move, please. Coming through.
[tense music continues]
[woman] Are you boarding?
[Aitana] Yes, just a moment.
- Aitana! - Pedro, what are you doing here?
- Aitana, your mother gave him to me. - Hi, my love.
She managed to stop Natalia before she got on the plane.
- Here are all his documents. - But, wait, where is she?
She's all right, don't worry.
She's got it under control. She wants you to go.
She'll get on the next flight.
What do you mean? How is she with Natalia?
- Do as she says, just go! - [woman] Excuse me.
- We're closing the gate. - Oh, okay.
See you, little dude.
- [Aitana] Here. - Any luggage to check in?
- No. - Passport?
Yeah.
- Elena Velardo? - Yes.
[tense music continues]
- [woman] Samuel Velardo? - Yeah.
[tense music continues]
Here you go.
- Perfect, thanks. - Gate 42.
- Great. - Have a nice flight.
So cute.
[line ringing]
Come on, answer. Please answer, Mom.
- [line ringing] - Come on, answer, answer, answer.
[line ringing]
Fuck!
Mariana.
Why do you have Nico?
- Where's Mom? - Pedro brought him.
He says she'll get on the next flight.
- The police are looking for us. - What are you talking about?
They put my picture around the airport.
Fuck! And Natalia? Where is she?
I don't know. Maybe she's with Mom, I don't know.
Okay, no problem. We gotta get outta here.
And Mom?
Have faith.
We're together, that's what matters now.
Come here.
- Let's go. That way. - Yeah. Let's go. That way.
[bittersweet music playing]
- [bittersweet music continues] - [Natalia crying]
You made a mistake, Julia, and you know it!
[angrily] You loved and you weren't loved in return!
You know why Santi didn't tell you the truth that night?
Because he didn't care about you!
He cared about protecting me!
Me and his son!
[sobbing]
[wails] Nico will never love you, damn it!
But you don't love your children expecting love in return.
[sighs] It's Maternity 101.
Neither of us will ever be the best mother for Nico.
Neither of us.
Because to be a good mother, loving him isn't enough.
[softly] You won.
You won.
You won, you won, you won!
Keep him, keep him, keep him! Julia!
Julia. Julia, let's talk. Julia, wait.
Get me out of here! Don't do this, Julia, please!
- [Gloria] Shh. - No! Wait, Julia! Wait!
Shut up and listen. Look. Look, a friend of mine gave me this.
He said it'd bring me luck.
I don't need it anymore.
[sobs] No! Julia...
[angrily] Julia! Get me out of here!
[screaming] Julia! Julia!
[Natalia panting]
[bittersweet music continues]
What are you doing?
We haven't been good.
But we're not gonna hurt anyone anymore.
[Natalia exclaims]
Let's fly.
- [bittersweet music continues] - [engine revving]
[Gloria] Handling that thread is not always easy.
When it moves and gets tangled,
you need to be able to tell when it's time to cut it.
It's the only way to free our children from ourselves.
["Hijo de la Luna" by José María Cano playing]
FORGIVE ME MARCOS
[bright choral music continues]
- [bright music continues] - [both crying softly]
[Gloria] Because...
what does it mean to be a good mother?
I'm sorry.
- I love you. - [Gloria] Feeding your children?
Giving birth to them?
Waking up in the middle of the night when they can't sleep?
There's only one way to know what it means to be a mother.
[crying]
Forgive me.
[bright music continues]
[Gloria] You have to close your eyes and think that everything you've done,
all the mistakes you've made, the missteps,
and the moments when you knew you had no margin of error...
all of that served a single purpose,
to make your children happy above all.
Even above yourself.
[bright music continues]
[woman] Push. And push. There you go.
- You're doing great. - [yells]
[doctor] You're doing great. There you go. There you go.
Almost there. There you go.
[laughing] It's a girl!
[bright music continues]
[baby crying]
[Gloria] When you think you've fulfilled your purpose,
that thread inexplicably arises again.
Stronger than ever.
[bright music continues]
[bright music fading]
[exploding suddenly]
- [bright music resumes playing] - [indistinct merriment]
[Gloria] And it stops being invisible because it embraces everything,
their faces, their gestures.
And every single day they wake up to...
That thread will always lead them back to you...
their mother.
[bright music fading]
[doctor] Good morning.
She's beautiful.
- [Aitana] Thank you. - [doctor] Are you the father?
Yes.
[mysterious music playing]
[music fades out]