Agnosia

PYRENEES, 1892

This way, gentlemen.

Gentlemen,

I won't keep you waiting any longer.

As you know, Holbein lndustries

have manufactured

the best weapons for many years now.

But to truly revolutionize

our industry...

Gentlemen, I give you...

Artur Prats.

I'm a man of few words.

So I'll keep this short.

Above all, I'd like you to see for yourselves

what we've got here to show you today.

Please, come and look

through the telescopes.

Tell me,

how many balloons can you see?

I see two.

These are the best telescopes on the market.

We already know these models.

I know.

Joana.

Are you all right?

Are you hurt?

I'm sorry, Daddy. Forgive me.

I'm not your dad.

Joana, I'm here now.

Don't worry, sweetheart.

Oh, God.

Are you okay?

Daddy?

Look at me, look at me, darling!

Joana, look at me.

BARCELONA, 1899

Extra, extra! Another anarchist bomb attack!

Seven murdered and fifteen injured in Almirall street!

Stay still!

No, not his face!

Just calm down. What happened?

I was fired.

Why?

It's complicated.

Then start at the beginning.

11 DAYS EARLIER

The day begins at half past five in the morning.

At five on Tuesdays,

and at four o'clock if you have to go to market.

You'll have to make sure

all the doors and windows are shut tight before night falls.

From that moment on, no one is allowed on Madam's floor.

Any problem with that?

None at all.

Close up everything before dark and ask before going upstairs.

Piece of cake.

Hold on.

Let me do it.

This is where Ma'am sits.

What's that for?

To tell them apart. It seems she can distinguish colours.

That's why we all wear rosettes. You see?

Marga, that's not exactly true.

We get branded here like cattle because of that freak of nature.

Mariano, cut that out!

Take that back this instant.

Mariano...

It's Mr. Lardin.

He was meant to be back tomorrow.

He's decided to come back early.

Get to your positions.

Set another place, Margarita. Carles is hungry!

Thank you.

Who is this Carles?

Carles Lardin, Madam's fiance.

I'm going back to Madrid before the end of the month.

If you agree, we can close the deal.

-Fine. -It's the answerto our prayers.

That's great. But let's leave business until tomorrow.

Your return couldn't be more timely.

How come?

I'd ratherthe Doctortold us.

Meissner has returned?

Not exactly.

What? Is he still here?

I won't be for much longer, I assure you.

Excuse me, Doctor, I didn't mean to...

Don't worry, Carles.

What he means is that...

Well, you explain it.

My pleasure.

I'm very pleased to be here this evening

to announce that, after having studied Joana's case exhaustively,

I can finally give you a diagnosis.

Really? Are you completely sure?

Please.

The hypnosis sessions with Joana couldn't have been more revealing.

Hypnosis?

Allow me to explain.

We knew Joana had problems recognising sounds,

objects and also people, but we didn't understand why.

Well, now I am quite sure.

Imagine that this jug contains

all the stimuli reality offers us.

Images, sounds, smells, etc.

Now when you look at this glass,

think of it as a brain,

young, healthy and pure.

From the day we're born

to the day we die,

this is all we actually perceive of reality.

Thanks to this filter,

we can separate out that extra information

which would otherwise submerge our minds in chaos.

Unfortunately, this is not the case for Joana.

The encephalitis she had as a child

destroyed that filter.

Since then, an excess of information has been reaching Joana's brain.

Her brain can't process it

or remember...

I am sorry.

Don't worry.

What are you driving at with all of this?

The sound proofing of her bedroom is almost ready,

but I fear it isn't enough.

We need to seal the room completely.

No inside or outside light.

What? You want to put her in a cage?

No. ''Cocoon''

would be a more fitting description.

We'll finish this conversation later.

Joana.

I don't feel very comfortable in this dress.

But you look beautiful.

It's one of her mother's dresses.

Look.

Look who's here.

Come on, Joana. Who is it?

It's Carles.

Carles...

-Come on, say something to her. -Daddy.

Doesn't she look pretty?

Radiant.

You'll see what a knock-out she looks in a wedding dress.

It's impossible to get near her.

That doctor is always there.

You won't find anything in that house.

Are you sure?

Fine. In that case...

Let's go.

Right. We'll be in touch with you

just as soon as we have a signed statement.

That wretch wilI nevertalk.

He doesn't know who's paying him.

Sir?

What do you mean by that?

It's not the first time somebody's been snooping about yourfactory,

but this time they tried to force the lock on your office door.

Let's not kid ourselves, this has nothing to do with anarchists.

I agree with you there.

If you had any idea who was behind this,

you'd let me know, wouldn't you?

Now, if you'll excuse me...

Is there anything I should know?

lndustrial espionage?

I'm only asking if apart from manufacturing weapons,

you've also started your own line in lenses?

You know I've always been a very open-minded business woman.

I thought your determination would have waned after so many years.

Your military friends are very keen

for you to make them a telescopic rifle,

but one thing is selling something you still haven't manufactured

and quite another

is speculating with ''borrowed'' technology.

I hope you haven't come here just to insuIt me.

Just accept it!

I never manufactured the catadioptric lens.

You can look under every last stone on earth,

but you won't find a thing.

I burnt it all.

So, as far as Joana Lenses is concerned,

you can say goodbye to yourtelescopic rifle.

That's a pity.

We were hoping to invest in Joana Lenses.

I appreciate your generosity,

but we don't need your money.

Doesn't your pet have anything to say?

-Goodbye, Lucille. -I'm not finished.

We've known each otherfor years,

I was hoping you'd invite me to your beautiful daughter's big day.

By the way,

how is she?

My God, Lucille. Don't you have any limits?

All right. Now I'm going to ask you a question.

And I want you to tell me the truth.

During yourwork at the mansion as a servant,

did you ever come into direct contact with Artur Prats' daughter?

Carles?

Is that you?

No, Ma'am.