Casa de Papel | S03 E01

“Everything needs to change, so everything can stay the same…” (Lampedusa)

S1: EXT/DAY — CAFE PLAZA MAYOR — MADRID

Sunny afternoon. A coffee terrace (large white sun-umbrellas) along the pillars of the historical plaza.

Sipping his second cortado, SUAREZ reads the daily Marca.

A short-hair blonde with a prominent nose and her huge smiling husband (look: bicker, long hair/beard, orange bandana) settle at a table behind Suarez. They both wear tinted glasses.

The plaza is quietly busy: customers, families and lovers, kids playing, tourists wandering…

Do you see me ?

Suarez glances at the peaceful scenery, stopping for a split second on a black girl wearing a “Tokyo” T-shirt.

Then he takes the cup to his lips and… stays still.

SOMEONE we don’t seeyet has arrived. His humble voice sounds familiar though.

FAMILIAR VOICE (OFF-SCREEN)
I am… Erm… sorry.

SUAREZ
Good afternoon, Mr. Perez.

FAMILIAR VOICE (OFF-SCREEN)
I am late. I had to… Well, may I?

SUAREZ
Take a sit.

FAMILIAR VOICE (OFF-SCREEN)
Thank you. (To the waiter:) A leche manchada, please…

SUAREZ
Coffee for intellectual. Hot milk, two drops of the real thing.

FAMILIAR VOICE (OFF-SCREEN)
I have to admit you got me, Comandante. My stomach can’t stand strong coffee: I am… Erm… definitely not a man of action.

SUAREZ
Mr Perez… I need to tell you… I gave only two interviews after the… events. And I did so only because my hierarchy asked me to. Counter-fires, you know…

FAMILIAR VOICE (OFF-SCREEN)
Well… Let me tell you that I am even more grateful that you… Erm…

SUAREZ
All “off”, right?

FAMILIAR VOICE (OFF-SCREEN)
Yes! Of course! Everything is off the record: that’s our agreement. I told them in Buenos Aires: it’s “off” or nothing. My editor is ok. It’s fine. We’re fine.

“Looks dead to me…”

SUAREZ
Good. Another thing.

FAMILIAR VOICE (OFF-SCREEN)
Yes? Please…

SUAREZ
Do you know why I’ve accepted to meet you?

FAMILIAR VOICE (OFF-SCREEN)
Well… Erm…

SUAREZ
Because of your list.

FAMILIAR VOICE (OFF-SCREEN)
My list?

SUAREZ
(unfolding a crumpled fax)
Twenty four questions.

FAMILIAR VOICE (OFF-SCREEN)
Ah! I see… Ah ah! A long and meticulous list. That’s the way I work, actually.

SUAREZ
Many of your colleagues tried to have me talking. Journalists from all over the world. Some even proposed money (bitter smile). But none has ever, ever, asked this question.

FAMILIAR VOICE (OFF-SCREEN)
Erm… Ok. Which one… in particular?

SUAREZ
It stroke me… Kept me thinking.

FAMILIAR VOICE (OFF-SCREEN)
Well, I… Erm… Let me… check…

SUAREZ
(staring at his interlocutor)
“Where was he buried ?” Why do you want to know, Mr. Perez? Why would you want to know where is Berlin’s grave? Do you question the official story?

We now discover the visitor: bald and sun tanned, blue eyes under double-focus glasses — it’s the PROFESSOR in perfect disguise, trying to give a poker face.

Do you think Berlin is still alive?

Cut.

David EMTON | www.facebook.com/davidemton

Tax heaven are boring. See you soon.