My Quick Way Out (2006) - full transcript

In 1980, Juan Carlos Delgado,

alias "Slick," was 11 years old,

had committed more than

150 crimes, some violent,

and had escaped

from three reformatories.

This film is freely inspired

by his true story.

Juan, isn't that your son?

Don't even think about it.

Get out of the car

with your hands up.

Easy.

Armed robbery,

grand theft auto,

shoot-outs with the police,

attempted murder...

Attempted murder?

You wanted to kill someone

and didn't?

No.

Probably someone I stabbed.

- But didn't mean to kill...

- Right.

If you'd meant to kill him,

you would have.

No murder, no attempt.

Like I was saying.

Is this an interrogation?

An interrogation? No, please.

Did it seem like one to you?

Forgive me,

it was unintentional.

Am I free to leave?

There's the door.

There's no fence or guard,

nothing to retain you here

against your will, is there?

This isn't a reformatory,

Juan Carlos. This is CEMU, a

youth center. Your presence here

is voluntary.

- Nobody will stop me from leaving?

- Nobody.

I want to be your friend,

Juan Carlos.

Even if at first

you reject my friendship.

Very touching.

But it sounds sort of faggy.

"Even if you don't love me

back." Too mushy.

I'm only interested in friendship.

That other stuff

hadn't even occurred to me.

It had better not.

You know what?

I'm sick of dealing

with thugs like you.

I'm getting out of here.

I built this place

and I've had it.

You wanna escape too?

I can drop you off somewhere.

See? He didn't even

notice us escaping.

Come on, you drive.

I can drive and still stick you

in the liver with this

if you try anything.

Go on.

Drive. Let's see if

you're as good as they say.

Do you usually have a plan prepared

or do you prefer to improvise?

I can't think of anywhere

to escape to.

Somewhere nearby,

a quick getaway.

Florida Park.

I haven't had a drink there in ages.

Are you serious?

Okay, this is where we part.

It's been a pleasure.

What do I do with the car?

What did you usually do?

We'd use them to go somewhere

or to steal something.

Can't you do that

with this one?

Are you dumb?

This car's too flashy.

Oh, I see.

Then we'll park it

and escape on foot from here on.

Leave it parked here,

with all the thieves around?

I have an idea. You may not

want to help me out, but...

Could you take it back to CEMU

and park it there?

Your plan was to escape on foot.

Maybe you could go back

there and start over.

You're not just crazy.

You're totally insane.

But I don't really care

where we leave it.

Damn, Juan Carlos, thanks a lot.

You don't know how grateful I am.

Sorry, I was just saying goodbye.

Not gonna rob anyone

with my letter-opener, are you?

I'll get blamed for letting

you go and giving you a weapon.

Though you will need some money

for your getaway.

Okay, then. Go ahead and rob me

and you lost it in the scuffle.

- Yeah, right.

- Come on.

I'd rather you rob me than scare

someone else with that thing.

What's the routine again?

"Your money or your life."

You're making me nervous.

Just rob me and take off.

You asked for it.

Give me everything you've got.

Can I keep enough to buy a drink?

No, smart guy. I'm taking

everything you've got,

like in a real robbery.

Come on, hurry up.

You forgot something.

TWO YEARS EARLIER

You're doing it wrong.

You'll fuck it up.

Let me do it

and I'll let you drive later.

Let me, I need to learn how.

You'll electrocute yourself.

Shut up, you drive like an old lady.

Flying there,

flying back.

Flying there,

flying back.

I keep myself busy

on the way.

I keep myself busy

on the way.

In love with life,

though it hurts sometimes.

In love with life,

though it hurts sometimes.

If I'm cold,

I find my grandma.

If I'm cold,

I find a warm fire.

Flying there,

flying back.

Flying there,

flying back.

I keep myself busy

on the way.

I keep myself busy

on the way.

Flying there,

flying back.

Flying there,

flying back.

I keep myself busy

on the way.

I keep myself busy

on the way.

Juan Carlos, close that window!

You want us all to get

pneumonia?

Mom, it's stifling hot in here.

I don't want any of you to get

sick. If one gets sick all four do.

I'm sick of all the

suppositories!

Next one who gets sick gets

locked out until they're better.

...to wish you all peace,

freedom and prosperity,

in my name,

and in that of my family.

I reach out to all of you

in your homes for a moment,

from my own home,

which belongs to all of you,

certain that the Spanish warmth

and hospitality

we 're so famous for...

Juan Carlos,

what do you want for Christmas?

I already told you.

The same as last year and the

year before that. A bicycle.

You know what that costs?

Don't you realize that

buying you a bicycle

would cost me half

a month's salary?

Or that your four sisters

need presents too.

The girls don't ride bikes yet.

Don't you get it?

We're poor.

Change jobs and make more money.

What else can I do?

Tell me.

Steal money and watches from

tourists like your friends' parents?

Snatch purses from old ladies

doing their morning shopping

like your friend Gavioto?

You want me to do that?

I don't know how, Juan Carlos.

I've been too busy working my

ass off my whole life to learn.

Our neighbor doesn't steal,

and his kids all have bikes.

And he has a house.

He's a builder and

I'm just a bricklayer!

A plasterer on a lucky day!

Dammit,

I expect him not to understand,

but you as well?

Go to your room.

What for?

Thanks, Dad!

Kiss your mother,

if it weren't for her...

Juan Carlos,

I got you the bike, but you have

to promise me something.

That you'll behave yourself

and stop hanging around

with those delinquents.

I promise, Dad.

I really do.

In love with life,

though it hurts sometimes.

In love with life,

though it hurts sometimes.

In love with life,

though it hurts sometimes.

If I'm cold,

I find a warm fire.

If I'm cold,

I find my grandma.

Flying there,

flying back.

Flying there,

flying back.

I keep myself busy

on the way.

I keep myself busy

on the way.

- Are you waiting for the bus?

- What?

Are you taking the bus home?

- Yeah.

- Well, then.

Can I have your coat?

I'm cold and I live far away.

What are you saying?

Give me your coat or I'll fill it

with holes with you still in it.

Hey, pretty slick!

Like an ad for Saks Fifth Avenue.

You stole a car to steal a bike?

No, my dad gave me the bike

for Christmas.

- Got anything bigger?

- Not for what you gave me.

Just put the rest on my tab.

I need a volunteer

to hand out notebooks.

- Pick me!

- Juan Carlos!

Can't you ever let

anyone else do anything?

I get bored if they do it.

Then learn how to read.

If you can't read

you can't hand out anything!

You want to fail

like your friend?

I know how without reading them.

What does this say?

Miguel...

- Angel...

- Miguel Angel Lopez Enciso.

- That's for talking out of turn.

- Juan Carlos!

Damn, lady. We'll never

learn anything at this rate.

Juan Carlos!

Where's Ms. Pilar's car?

I parked it.

We saw!

And where are her things?

I put them away for her.

They were in plain view.

They could get stolen.

Next time tell her about it

instead of moving her car and

emptying it out, you got that?

He's got it in for me

and I did nothing to him.

I urge you to do something

to improve your son's behavior

or we shall be forced

to expel him.

You think we haven't tried?

We ground him every day!

The pencil in the right hand!

Let him choose hands.

Maybe he's left-handed.

Left-handed?

He's just stubborn like his mom.

Are you left-handed?

My wife? I don't think so.

She never went to school.

Which hand does your mother

slap you around with?

I don't know, with both.

I always take off. I'm not gonna

hang around for that.

Well, next time take notice.

This lady

says it might be important.

Before he started at this school

we could handle him. I don't know

what kind of people he's met here...

You've made a rebel out of him.

Of all things!

You blame it on the school?

He was a good boy.

He's a spoiled brat and everyone

in the entire province knows it.

Hey, watch it.

He's not spoiled,

he's hyperactive.

A psychologist whose office

I plastered told me that.

A psychologist?

Maybe you should take

Juan Carlos to see one.

I'm usually never rough with him.

I don't mean hitting him...

I know, I know, I shouldn't hit

him. But I get up at 6 A.M.

And I work like a dog

all day long and when I get home

I don't feel like doing anything.

Except drinking wine

in the bar downstairs.

- What?

- Don't hit my son!

Stop hitting your kid.

You're damn right! That bar's the

only reason I still haven't beat

the living crap out of you!

I hang around all sorts

of criminals.

Sometimes they eat cold meals,

other times warm.

Every day they steal two cars.

One in the morning,

another at night.

They're like

one big happy family,

with a gift for

digging through the trash.

They'll end up ruining my life.

They'll sell me

like a can of sardines.

They'll sell me

like a can of sardines.

I'd better make sure my hat

has a hole in it

so the sunlight

can shine on my brain.

I want to seduce you

with the soft, fresh breeze

of my fan made of glass.

Of my fan made of glass.

Of my fan made of glass.

Good evening, ma'am.

This is the police station.

Are you the mother of

Juan Carlos Delgado Caballero?

Don't be alarmed,

everything's okay.

He had a little problem.

You'll have to come and get him.

Okay.

Don't you worry about leaving

the keys in the cars

with all the crooks around?

The criminals or the chief?

Sweetheart, what happened?

What happened is we caught him

red-handed shoplifting

in a supermarket.

Is that true?

Not shoplifting.

I was playing.

Yeah, Cops and Robbers.

Your son's hanging with

a bunch of crooks

and nothing good can come of it.

They're famous in south Madrid.

You'd better do something about

it while he's still small.

The others are a lost cause, we're

waiting till they reach prison age.

But your son is still a boy.

We'll just keep a file

on him for now.

Stop being such a little monster!

I'm hitting you

so your father won't have to!

Get your hands up!

Don't move!

Damn, Slick.

A Mini would have been better

for Toledo.

Yeah? What if we're in a Mini

and the cops chase us, asshole?

Gavioto, get a clue.

People park like fucking jerks!

We're gonna need two cars

for each job.

One for long rides,

one for narrow streets.

And a horse for

the damn mountains...

Where is he going?

From Madrid, of course.

Careful, it's too tight!

Let Slick drive and

calm down, Gavioto.

- They shot Charly!

- Bastards!

It hurts.

Got any smack around?

I'll get it, Mom.

Hi.

Did your dad see you?

He was in the bar

but he didn't see me.

Will you ever change?

It's not what you think.

I'm holding it for a friend.

Where were you earlier?

You'd better say I was with you.

Juan Carlos, tell me right now where

you were or I'll get your father.

I was at the park,

but say I was with you.

I didn't do anything!

I didn't steal anything!

I didn't steal anything, Mom!

It's for a friend!

Holding stolen goods

is the same as stealing!

Hello, ma'am. I'm afraid your son

will have to come with us again.

He couldn't have done anything.

He was sick in bed the whole week.

Ma'am, please. Last night your son

was racing the police in Toledo.

- He was right here, I tell you!

- Ma'am, don't obstruct us.

You'll wake the girls.

Hold on, wait.

Juan Carlos.

There are some police officers

here to see you.

Let me go, motherfucker!

I'll teach you not to laugh at us.

These things hurt me

more than them.

Hey, Slick. Come on in.

Hey.

You scared the shit out of us.

Stand away from the door.

I can't see you

through the peephole.

- Slick.

- Hey, have you had dinner?

You want something?

No, thanks.

Hey, Charly. What's up?

Fucking great.

Is this the guy with the rest?

Wow, how pretty.

Check out the bracelet.

Careful getting stuff engraved.

Is this it? There were a pair of

earrings and bracelets.

My mom beat the shit out of me

before I could stash them.

They fell on the stairs.

A pair of matching earrings?

They're definitely not lost.

Probably the ones hooked

together in a handkerchief.

Probably.

Damn, Slick.

Did he scare you?

Relax, we're all friends here.

- Is this the racing driver?

- Even better.

He doesn't race, he flies.

Give the man a break, Slick.

He's a pal of the family.

Keep that away from me,

I'll get in trouble.

I'm leaving. I'm late.

He won't be a problem?

He looks young.

He's just little.

But he's got balls like a tiger.

What about his folks?

Out of the picture. He's here

with us most of the time.

I still piss myself

when I remember it.

I still piss myself

when I remember it.

The faces of those two cops in

Toledo when they saw the car...

At night, when I'm about to

pass out,

their faces come back to me

and I burst into laughter

and wake up.

The bastard keeps me awake!

I think bouncing down the steps

stopped my bleeding.

Right! It was the heroin you took

with the excuse of having been shot.

Wanna share a game?

Okay. But I'm awful.

Because nobody's ever taught you.

Be careful.

You got a car?

You see me with a car?

Cars are my favorite thing

in the world.

You know how to drive?

And how. My friends are

mechanics and they taught me.

Damn.

Look, we get another ball.

We got lucky.

Looks like it.

Do we kiss on the cheek?

Okay.

For the first time...

For the first time...

I felt like a man

without knowing why.

For the first time...

For the first time

I felt like a man

without knowing why.

It must be

your fault for being

such a woman.

Juan Carlos.

Juan Carlos.

Wake up, it's Christmas.

Hey, don't you want

to see what you got?

You'll never guess.

What is this?

Juan Carlos.

You asked for a parrot

for Christmas.

Parrot is slang for stereo!

And your father hates parrots...

What do I do with this thing?

Don't worry,

I'll take care of it.

Just act interested at first,

like you did with the bike.

- Is this for me?

- Sure.

You'll be ten this year.

Eleven.

Better for me.

You're already out getting drunk

with your friends all the time.

It won't do you any harm

to have a cider with your dad.

Juan, it's New Year's Eve.

If he came to dinner more often

we could have this chat any time,

but since we can't,

I have to take advantage.

- How's the school year going?

- Fine.

Liar!

You've only gone three times.

Coincidentally always the day

after some robbery somewhere.

The cops always blame

the same people.

- They're fucking clueless.

- Son of a...

No wonder. You talk like a

delinquent because you are one.

Drink your cider.

One of these days

you'll be the death of us.

The guys you're hanging with

are nothing but bad news.

You'll end up getting shot

or shooting somebody else...

- I don't shoot people, Dad!

- Shut up! Not yet, you don't.

You think you can keep stealing cars

and robbing stores without a gun?

- Juan, please.

- Shut up!

Drink your cider.

You'll get him drunk.

Let him get drunk then!

I'd rather have him drunk at home

knowing he's not hurting anyone

than out robbing decent people.

At least this way he sleeps

at home for once. Drunk!

What was that?

- Drunk!

- You got him the parrot.

Don't blame me.

I wanted a stereo.

I don't like birds.

Juan...

Juan, please don't hurt the

parrot. It would really upset me.

How much did you pay for it?

Don't worry,

it was my mother's money.

You asked her for money

to buy a parrot? Are you nuts?

Let me, Bego.

You're ripped.

- So are you.

- But I didn't get stoned.

You're a mess.

You're getting soaked.

You're totally high.

I know.

That's my thing, I'm high.

Damn, you sure are pretty.

Bego, can I stay over? I don't want

to go home if I'm this drunk.

Are you still dressed?

Here.

Let me.

- Are you cold?

- No, I'm hot.

We don't have heating

at my house.

Take off your sweater.

Bego?

Fuck the video.

Everything they invent

nowadays makes life harder.

Sure there aren't more cameras?

No, the Mister was very clear.

Quit screwing around

and get to work.

Ex-thief "El Lute"

has had a banneryear.

To the twenty grand he made

for the "Bonnie M" song

we can now add first prize at

the Benidorm Song Festival...

Wow, that son of a bitch!

Shit, twenty grand for a song.

What a bastard.

Can you imagine a little rumba

about us, Slick?

The Chichos wrote one for Torete.

Yeah, "Slick Shady."

Or "Grease and Gavioto."

- Mister, it wasn't us.

- You knew where the camera was!

I told you not to rob the place!

You see any stolen goods here?

Anyone know who did it?

You're playing with fire.

- You're headed for trouble.

- Maybe El Lute, he's on parole.

El Lute? El Lute?

We're in the same boat.

Let go of me, dammit!

The same boat?

I'm alone in this boat,

motherfuckers.

First one who laughs

gets his ass kicked.

You're the one pissing yourself.

Gavioto, you shithead.

- Are you nuts?

- Always getting us into trouble.

What about all the fun we had?

Well? Aren't you gonna tell us

where you stashed everything?

Yeah.

You're better off not knowing.

I told you not

to bring me anything.

It's just a hair dryer.

The fourth hair dryer...

They keep releasing new models.

You've got beautiful hair.

You deserve the best.

- Take a bath with me.

- No.

That time of the month...

Your mother lets you go out

dressed like that?

She doesn't care

and neither do I.

I'm sure she does. Promise me

you'll go home tonight.

My house sucks. They only care

about my five sisters.

You sound like a spoiled brat.

I'm not a spoiled brat.

You're not?

What about this?

What is this?

Well?

How strange of the Mister to set

us up with such a good job

when he's mad at us.

He's mad, but business is business.

It's not like we can say no.

He'd know for sure.

Money does away with all anger.

The Mister's and the Virgin Mary's.

Damn, Charly. Couldn't you wait

till we got back?

Give me a break, Slick.

I won't puke.

That's what you always say.

I haven't eaten all day.

You always end up too fucked up to

help and we have to do everything.

That's true, Charly.

Damn, everybody's against me today.

Nobody move! You're surrounded!

Come out with your hands up!

Your buddies aren't faring

as well as you.

Being the youngest has its perks.

But you won't get

off as easy as you think.

Little hoodlums in Madrid

need to realize

that we country folk aren't

to be played around with.

We'll try to give you

a good flu or pneumonia

to keep you in bed with a fever

for a couple weeks

so you'll only be a burden

on your parents,

if you even know them...

Sit in back, out of my sight,

where you won't embarrass me.

Look, a remote control,

like in Japan.

What sucks is having only 2 channels.

In Japan they have 7 or 8.

That's why they invented

the damn thing.

You don't wanna watch TV?

Juan Carlos, what

we're doing isn't right.

What I'm doing with you isn't right.

I kept telling myself

I was helping you,

that I was giving you love

and keeping you off the street

and away from

that dangerous life of yours.

- That I was taking care of you.

- Sure you are.

No, I'm not taking care of you

and I'm not helping you.

I'm using you.

Don't you see?

I can't even talk to you.

- Sure you can! - I mean with you

understanding me.

You're not even eleven yet,

and I'm thirty.

This is the most

absurd thing I've ever done,

and that's saying a lot.

I can't be anything to you.

You can be my girl, can't you?

Haven't you even wondered why

I live alone in Getafe

with no friends, out of touch

with my family, and with no job?

None of that matters to me.

If you want, I'll ask.

You want me to ask?

I couldn't answer you.

Not even I know.

You'll have to keep it hidden.

If Dad sees it we're screwed.

Thank you, Juan Carlos.

Especially for coming.

I've been praying to God all week.

He must have heard me.

That must be it.

It probably helped.

Thank you, God.

What did Slick bring you?

You guys better bite your tongues.

Or I'll rip them out myself.

- How pretty!

- Is it gold?

15 karat gold.

It's the thought that counts.

You didn't get us anything?

No, Mari Jose's the only one

having a communion.

Even just a Nancy doll

from the supermarket would do...

Who told you I have Nancy dolls?

Indio's little sister at school.

Her brother wouldn't give her one

because you had them stashed.

She's stupid. I'll have her

brother smack her around.

- I wanted a Skating Nancy.

- A Party Nancy for me.

I don't have any Nancies.

Yeah, you do.

In the abandoned house.

- I'll let you each wear it...

- What's going on in here?

Unbelievable!

You sneak out if we ground you

in your rooms

and you hide in your rooms

if there's a party.

Always doing the opposite.

Don't let your father see that.

Maribel!

Police and firemen my ass!

Let me through.

Who helped you?

I did it alone.

Are you stupid or what?

You think your friends

wouldn't roll over on you?

Who told you where

the camera was?

Who lifted you up to spray it?

I did it by myself.

You're a fucking idiot.

They're using you.

You think your friends

have a code of honor.

Someday you'll see they're

just a pile of trash.

They're just a pile of trash.

And I won't be

laughed at by trash.

My God, Juan, what happened?

Juan, where are you going? Juan!

Juan, don't!

Juan, don't!

- Juan!

- Dad, don't!

You'll kill him!

Juan!

Juan, what's wrong with you?

Juan!

Dad, don't!

Juan, please!

Juan!

Juan!

Juan, for God's sake!

Son of a bitch!

If you ever touch him again...

Don't you ever touch him again!

Don't you ever hit me again,

you hear me? Never!

What are you talking about?

I should have smacked you the

first time you covered up for him.

Keep your hands off me,

I'll kill you!

I should have smacked you

the day you gave birth to him.

I'll poison you, put glass in

your drink, anything!

Hold still, dammit.

You won't get off this time.

You'll have to keep

hitting me, Dad.

Maybe even kill me.

I'm not going to stop

doing what I do.

I'm organizing an escape.

It's simple.

I've escaped from

worse places than this.

I'll let you come with us

in exchange for a ride to Madrid

and my own car.

- How many of us are there?

- In the car?

- Just you and me.

- No, in the escape.

Lots. The more the better.

But it's every man for himself.

When?

Right now, after dinner.

It could work.

It's the shit, you'll see.

Don't move, fucker.

Gavioto!

Gavioto, it's me.

Damn, you scared

the shit out of me.

This is Diego,

a friend from Murcia.

I almost shot you two. I could only

see his head and I don't know him.

If you can't see the driver,

you know it must be me.

Come on in.

Should she be tied up like that?

It was her idea.

She says she loves me.

Gypsies are dangerous, Gavioto.

Not as dangerous as me.

She was miserable at home anyway.

She's better off with me.

I untie her plenty.

I only tie her up when she says she

wants to go home. To protect her.

All girls are whores.

How was she?

You can pay me the five extra

when we settle things later.

Quickly, the register.

Fucking move!

Uppers and anything with opium!

Easy, take it easy.

I have a son your age.

Maybe he isn't dead.

What if he identifies us?

Sure, nobody around here

knows you.

But Slick is famous. And most kids

don't rob pharmacies with guns.

What if he identifies Slick

and it gets back to me?

That guy won't identify anyone,

you dumbshit.

You want to sit down?

Have you got a belt?

SLICK AND HIS GANG

TERRORIZE SOUTH MADRID

DANGEROUS 11-YEAR-OLD CRIMINAL

Juan, isn't that your son?

Today we start a new year at CEMU,

"The City School for Boys,"

and like every year

you will meet new classmates.

The first thing we much teach them

are the standard rules of behavior

which we learn every day.

Here we learn to share

and share alike.

To care for life

and the things around us.

To help.

Some of our new classmates

have never been to a school,

especially never one like this.

Others are straight

out of reformatories.

Like many of you

when you first came.

Therefore we must all be

very kind...

Hey!

How fast is that thing?

I don't know,

I've never raced it!

Can I take it for a spin?

Yeah, later. When I'm done you

can take it anywhere you like.

He said I could take it anywhere

I wanted when he was done.

Juan Carlos, listen carefully

to what I'm gonna say.

I'll accept that you're rebellious,

that you need more "action"

than most of your classmates.

I'll also be patient with your need

to call attention to yourself,

to have everyone always hanging

on everything that occurs to you.

But I won't have you playing dumb

and thinking I will do the same.

Neither of us is dumb,

we both know that.

Or maybe I was wrong about you.

Are you dumb?

Answer me.

I don't know, maybe.

Juan Carlos, what if you'd had

an accident with the excavator?

I never have accidents

if I'm driving.

Bad things only happen to me

if I stand still.

I had a surprise planned for you.

The Go-Cart track

so you could demonstrate

your talent to...

I give a flying fuck

about Go-Carts.

...to scouts from

the Spanish Racing Federation.

I thought you might want

to be a pro racing driver.

But first you'll have

to prove to me

you can stop being a thug

for a little while.

- You smoke?

- Hell, no.

Sign up for circus classes?

I'm only watching.

You're too big for any circus, man.

The excavator thing was cool.

I didn't have time

to pop a wheelie.

When you're older he'll hook you up

as someone important's chauffeur.

Miguel Bos? or Antonio Molina.

They're friends of his.

I don't want to be a chauffeur.

What's that all about?

Don't look at me.

What about your dad?

What about yours?

Maybe mine turned up.

Juan Carlos,

I have some bad news for you.

Very sad news.

Wanna come in my office?

Why don't you tell me out here?

Your friends had an accident.

In a car chase.

Are they dead?

Who was in the car?

Benito Sanchez Morales,

Jose Francisco Exposito Romero,

Niceforo Garcia Garcia,

and Juan Jose Torres Gea.

Who was driving?

What does that matter?

Please, tell me who was driving.

Juan Jose Torres Gea.

Parakeet.

Who would ever let Parakeet drive?

Those stupid fucking assholes.

I'll be up late drawing tonight.

Wanna come to the studio

and we can talk about it?

This is all your fault.

If I weren't here,

I'd have been driving

and nothing would have happened.

We can never know "what if."

Maybe I saved you from

getting killed along with them.

Slick!

What's up, Slick?

You've heard, haven't you?

You weren't there either.

I was high and they ditched me.

Go figure.

Heroin saved my life.

Why didn't you come in?

You can come and

go without problems here.

You come out.

This place gives me the creeps.

What's wrong, Slick?

Have you forgotten

how to jump a fence?

Know what Indio's parents said?

That the Mister set us up.

Why does he say that?

He sent them on the job

and there were cops waiting on

the worst curve right by a cliff.

Maybe if you'd been driving...

If it was a good trap,

I'd be dead like them.

And so would you,

if you'd gone.

You never know.

I'm in bad shape, man.

You got any money on you?

We don't handle much in here.

Let's steal a car

and go for a ride.

Just you and me.

Okay, on one condition.

You have to let me choose the car.

POLICE STATION

Take the cuffs off the child.

- You got a light, officer?

- Yes.

Forgive me asking one question.

I take the liberty because

you seem like good people.

If you happen to kill my son

in a chase or a shoot-out,

you get in trouble, right?

That's what I thought.

I don't know what to do anymore.

I think he wants us to kill him,

or he wants to kill us,

but I can't do it.

Don't say that.

My wife gave birth to him,

he's my blood, but I can't.

- He's my son.

- Relax, nobody has to kill anybody.

He's got a death wish,

and it should be granted soon

so he doesn't hurt anyone else.

Come on, sir.

Not in front of the kid.

- Go home and get some rest.

- I never rest.

The day you bring him

home dead, maybe I will.

You should hear yourself.

Bring him home dead,

I'll kill a lamb

and we'll celebrate the end

of all this suffering.

Because he's suffering as well.

I know he is.

Just because your folks

are overwhelmed

and can't handle you doesn't

mean they don't love you.

I don't give a fuck

if they love me or not.

That's what you think. But it's

no use arguing about that now.

I want to make one thing clear.

Driving them crazy doesn't mean

you can drive me crazy.

You got that?

And you know why?

Because I'm already crazy.

I'm nuts. I belong in

an asylum with electroshock.

Crazy people never lose.

Never.

We're invincible.

I have my own damn

fantasy world

and I'll make damn sure

you're happy in it.

You've met your match.

Now you know.

Why do I think you're worth it?

Because you're crazy, too.

Crazy about speed,

about getting everywhere first.

So do me a favor.

Forget everything else,

the revenge, the resentment,

and start doing the one thing

you do best, you schmuck.

Winning races.

GLUE

Eloy? Eloy!

Bring the solvent!

Eloy!

Goddammit, Eloy's table

is fucked again.

Call an ambulance!

Damn, what a shitty Christmas.

At least it's over with.

Remember before,

with the whole gang?

The parties at the Manchegos?

What a blast. Nobody can ever

take all that away from us.

We were hot shit.

Partying, doing jobs, fast cars,

spending money, screwing whores

and going wherever we wanted.

I'm surprised you remember. You

were asleep most of the time.

You're so harsh, Slick.

Sure, I was always high.

But I was aware of

things around me.

This place has made you nasty.

You're bitter, kid.

Though I'm on the outside

and I'm just as bitter as you.

Can't you tell?

We must be getting old

or something.

Nothing cheers me up.

I'm like you, but worse.

At least you've started

a new life.

You've stopped raising hell,

you have plans...

It's really no big deal.

I'm just a piece-of-shit junkie.

All I know how to do

is get high.

Nobody does it better.

You won, Slick. I lost.

I'm a burden,

just holding you back.

Don't say that, you shithead.

We're pals and we always will be.

Yeah? You sure?

Where are you going?

Wait!

I said, where are you going?

Charly, come on, don't cry.

Would you do me a favor?

No heroin. I just need a ride to

my grandparents' in Salamanca.

Drop me off there

and I'll never bother you again.

This is the police.

Turn off the

motor and get out of the car.

I warned you, man.

I fucking told you.

I'm just a piece-of-shit junkie.

Now what?

Didn't you say we'd always be pals?

To hell with friendship.

Okay, what do we do

with Juan Carlos?

It's the second time he's left CEMU

and been caught with a stolen car.

He escaped from

the other reformatories.

And with violence. He's been at

CEMU several months.

Two arrests is nothing

compared to his prior record.

Personally, I really like

your institution.

But can you offer citizens an option

that will make them feel safe

knowing this boy can leave

your center anytime he pleases?

There's no guarantee

for total safety.

But I think CEMU is doing

a good job with him.

This boy was stealing several cars

a week, even on the same day,

and took part in violent robberies.

This latest stuff is nothing.

You must be aware that CEMU, and

especially you, have many enemies.

You might prefer to acknowledge

a small failure in time

and have Juan Carlos transferred

to a conventional reformatory.

Nobody will treat my son

like Uncle Alberto.

Uncle.

The police brought Juan Carlos.

You want to talk to him?

No.

Alberto, Uncle Alberto!

What is it?

Who?

Let me see, Juan Carlos.

Did you hurt your eyes?

Juan Carlos, please, answer me.

Did you hurt your eyes?

Look at me.

Juan Carlos, look at me, dammit!

What happened?

Why did you do this?

- It's your fault.

- Whose fault?

Yours. Why didn't you

ask me what happened?

You didn't even yell at me.

You don't give a fuck.

Like everyone else.

Leave me alone!

You should have yelled at me

like the other times!

That's why you're here,

isn't it?

You'd always done it before!

You were doing just fine.

You were doing fine.

Why didn't you yell at me?

You don't give a fuck.

Like everyone else.

Juan Carlos gave us a second chance

and let us show him we did care.

He stayed at CEMU, went to school

and learned to read and write.

He gave up his criminal activities

and started racing competitively.

By the age of 20 he had won

several Spanish championships

for Formula Renault, though he

had to renounce his dream,

being a Formula 1 driver.

He now works as a test driver

for the newest European models

and as an expert motor journalist.

He also teaches evasive driving

to state security forces.

He still lives and works at CEMU,

helping to redirect the steps

of other boys like him.

This film is dedicated to CEMU,

Uncle Alberto, and our parents.