[waves lapping in the distance]
[menacing synth music playing]
[car door opens]
[woman] My son, Elmer.
We were in a terrible car accident when he was only six years old.
The cortex of his right frontal lobe was severely damaged from the impact,
and he lost the ability to feel emotions.
So he grew up without feeling things like affection,
happiness,
or love.
And while it sounds awful…
-[ominous musical sting] -[grunts]
…there were times…
[body thuds]
…where it came in quite handy.
[seagulls cawing]
[woman] Everything becomes simpler
when you're unburdened by anxiety
or fear
or guilt.
THE GARDENER: TREES AND PLANTS
[woman] There were days he'd realize something was missing.
And he would ask me why he wasn't like other people.
Then he'd soon forget.
[car door opens]
Because between all of his plants,
his books…
[engine turns over]
…his van,
and my love, he had everything he needed.
["Tiptoe Through the Tulips" by Tiny Tim playing]
♪ Tiptoe through the window By the window ♪
♪ That is where I'll be ♪
♪ Come tiptoe through the tulips With me ♪
♪ Tiptoe from the garden ♪
♪ By the garden of the willow tree ♪
♪ And tiptoe through the tulips with me ♪
♪ Knee deep in flowers we'll stray ♪
♪ We'll keep the showers away ♪
♪ And if I kiss you in the garden In the moonlight ♪
♪ Will you pardon me ♪
♪ And tiptoe through the tulips with me? ♪
[song ends abruptly]
[ominous chord plays]
[foreboding music slowly builds]
[tense music builds, ends]
Hey, sweetheart.
Wash your hands.
[faucet running]
Are you hungry?
-Yeah, the beach makes me hungry. -Good, 'cause dinner's ready. Go sit down.
-Are we good? -We're good.
[kissing]
I love you.
-[Elmer] You're not eating? -No.
I lose my appetite when you're out on a job.
Mm. These are good frijoles.
Well, your face says something completely different.
[chuckles]
[chuckles fondly]
Though he wasn't like normal kids,
I loved my son more than anything in the world.
From a very young age, he developed a special connection with the world
of trees and plants.
[pen scratching]
[woman] Maybe 'cause with them, he didn't have to perform
or fake emotions he didn't have.
He began to design these quaint little landscapes
he'd then plant behind our house.
"Botany is just the science of beauty."
That's what he always said.
And it's true.
His love of calculus, chemistry, and geometry helped him create
one-of-a-kind outdoor spaces that stood out for their artistry,
science, and beauty.
Whenever asked, he would always say that the secret was in the fertilizer.
ATLANTIC LANDSCAPE
[woman] Apparently when somebody dies,
the body of the deceased has the right balance of nutrients
to not just feed plants, but make them thrive.
Turns out, there's no better fertilizer than a corpse.
[poignant string music playing]
THE GARDENER
[radio chirps]
-[officer 1] Copy that… -[detective] Hi.
[officer 1] Establishing blockade at the main entrance and sending units…
[officer 2] The beach is closed.
Detectives Torres and Carrera. Pontevedra PD.
About the disappearance of Antón García Martín.
Tell me we didn't come for nothing.
You're in luck, Detective.
We still haven't found the body.
-And where are all his belongings? -There, on the sand.
A couple spotted the clothes while walking by.
When they didn't see anyone in the water, they called us.
[grunts]
[phone camera clicking]
[Torres] They'll keep searching, but I doubt they'll find anything.
How so?
[Torres] The current probably carried him out to sea.
So, what now?
We wait. These cases tend to solve themselves 90% of the time.
They turn up one way or another. Whether it's dead or alive.
Would you go swimming in there? It's freezing.
I don't even swim in the summer.
What? Did you never learn?
[Torres] I can swim. I just… don't go in the ocean.
-There's gotta be a story here. -[Torres laughs]
I'll tell you later, over a beer.
So he folds his clothes up, right? Then just left them laid out here?
I think that's weird, don't you?
[officer 2] His wife is in the parking lot.
Who called her?
[radio chirps]
[wife] Yeah, those are his things.
[Torres] We have to hold onto them till your husband turns up.
[wife] Did he drown?
[Torres] The current might've dragged him out or a boat--
[Carrera] It's too early to determine exactly what happened to him.
[Torres] Is that his car?
-[wife] Yeah. -[Torres] You mind if I take a look?
Was your husband extremely orderly?
Not really, no.
He likes to go swimming after dusk, though.
The water's pretty cold this time of year.
Yeah.
But he is tough.
[customers chattering]
[footsteps approaching]
My husband's disappeared.
They think he drowned while swimming.
The water's pretty choppy. Least that's what they say on the news.
He's not coming back?
[chuckles softly] You and your son will be safe from now on.
-Your husband's no longer a problem. -[tearfully] Thank you.
[woman clears throat]
[sinister synth music playing]
[labored footsteps]
[exhales forcefully]
[inhales] I pray that that mother and her boy will now be free
and their pain be healed.
And may the blessings poured onto them spill over onto us.
So that we can return to Mexico. To our home.
That they would let me buy it and that I could pay for it.
Amen.
[sinister music fades out]
-[birds singing] -[water bubbling]
ATLANTIC LANDSCAPE
[low, uncomfortable thrum]
[breathing heavily]
[gasps gently]
[thrum stops]
[chuckles] Hello, Elmer.
Your landscape is stunning.
[Elmer] Thanks.
What are your odds on the Garden of the Year?
Good.
You know you're gonna have to speak in front of the judging panel?
Can you do it?
Me? No, 'cause I'm not the designer.
-[groans gently] -I don't know. It's a bad idea.
Why's that?
I mean, you're the big plant connoisseur. Plus you deserve it.
You're very good at what you do.
Not at speaking. What am I gonna say?
You don't have to say anything, Elmer.
You just have to do the things I taught you.
Where's the photo album? With my pictures in it?
-The one you always have in here? -[Elmer] Here.
I want you to see one in particular.
Now, see if you can find the picture.
The one in the house in Mexico
after I received an award.
I'm wearing a strappy dress in it.
Got it?
-Mm-hmm. -[woman] How do I look?
-Happy. -[woman] See?
It feels good to win an award. It's a happy feeling.
When are we going to Mexico?
[woman, chuckling] When I have the money I need.
But that's what you're always saying. It's never enough.
Well, the house isn't cheap. What are you implying here?
That I'm a liar?
Is this anger?
No, son, but think about what you said.
'Cause I'm working hard to make our lives better,
only to have you say mean things to me, Elmer.
Oh. I didn't mean to.
Don't worry about it, Elmer.
[exhales] I'll make us dinner.
Are you hungry?
Sure.
[woman] And get comfortable with the idea of talking to the panelists, all right?
-[tires crunch] -[engine shuts off]
[distant thunder rumbling]
[engine turning over]
[thunder rumbles]
[mournful string instrumentals playing]
Are you Mrs. Jurado?
That's me. What can I do for you?
Well, my name is Sabela Costeira.
And I would like to have a word.
A private matter.
You have a son, don't you Mrs. Jurado?
[Mrs. Jurado] One. Yes.
YOUR MOTHER REMEMBERS YOU, ALWAYS
[Sabela] I had one too.
-He died eight months ago. -Oh. I'm so sorry.
[cries quietly, sobs]
He was my joy.
My heart.
Nothing else really mattered to me before him.
So are you looking for some help designing some kind of memorial for him?
I'm not here to talk about gardening.
Then I'm not quite sure what you're asking.
I won't rest in peace… [inhales sharply]
…till the one responsible pays for what she took from me.
I'm not sure why you're coming to us.
[music slowly distorts]
You know very well.
If you want to work with us, let's make one thing very clear.
All we do is we make problems disappear.
They're here. Then they're gone. That's all.
And it's not easy to make a problem disappear.
It requires a lot of time and proper planning to do it well.
I'll pay whatever it takes.
-Look. -[purse unzips]
This is the problem that I want to disappear.
All right.
[final chord plays, fades]
Again?
-We should space them out. -Elmer.
Think it over.
It's a lot.
With it, we could finally buy the house in Mexico.
This is the last time.
I promise, there won't be any more.
[tense, curious music playing]
ELEMENTARY YEAR 2
-[school bell rings] -[girl] Come on, let's go kiddos!
This way.
-Hello, how are you? -[kids chattering]
Alright. Daddy's waiting.
C'mon, you see him? He'll be happy to see you!
SINCE 1979
-[girl 1] You're not coming to practice? -[girl 2] Well, no. I guess not.
Wait. There's no training tomorrow, is there?
-Stop messing with me! -[girl 1 laughs] Are you hungover?
-[girl 3] Oh, right, that date with the… -[girl 1] Girl!
-[girl 2] You know who it is. -[girl 3] I have no idea.
[rhythmic, suspenseful music continues]
[music slowly fades]
[Torres] He could've got caught on a boat, tangled in the ropes, or I don't know…
Yeah. Give me a call if you come up with another theory.
All right. Thanks.
These coffees are on you.
[Torres chuckles] No body yet, and they've called off the search.
Well, what was the word from Maritime?
-[Torres] They think it's weird too. -Yeah, sure, 'cause he didn't drown.
You suggesting he was taken out by a predator? Like a shark got him?
[gasps] Wait, is that it? Did that movie traumatize you as a child?
Yep. Been screwed up since I left the theater.
-[Carrera] Now you won't go in the sea. -Only up to my knees.
Poor thing. [inhales] All right.
Back to the beach. I wanna check something.
[Torres] So, should we close off the beach to swimmers?
[Carrera] What if something happened to him before diving in?
[Torres] Sure. He met someone, and they left together.
[Carrera] It's the only theory I could come up with.
[Torres] So we got nothing?
-[Carrera] Excuse me. Hi. -[surfer] Hi.
We are Detectives Carrera and Torres.
We had some questions about the swimmer who disappeared.
He drowned.
[Carrera] Did you see it?
It was the end of the day. But you could see him.
It looked like he was just looking at the water, right over there.
You saw him go in?
[Torres] He went into the water. The surfer guy confirmed it.
[Carrera] No. He said he "assumes" he went into the water.
As he left, he just saw clothes on the sand and not the swimmer.
Those aren't the same.
No one listened to Chief Brody either till it was too late.
Oh, Torres, c'mon.
I've had it up to here with the fucking Jaws jokes, all right?
Let's say that he never went in. Then what'd he do?
The guy said he didn't see anyone over there with him.
So he either walked along the beach or got something from the car.
But the keys were with his clothes.
[inhales]
No idea. Need to give it more thought.
[Mrs. Jurado] As you can see, the blue columns on either side
represent the connection between the sea and the water of Galicia.
And then, if you'll notice the columns right here,
coming up from the soil and emerging in several different directions…
The back ones are shorter, and these right here are taller.
[voice echoes] They're the pillars of society.
And if you look at the center, this is the world, joined by hoops,
representing the concept of unity
and the idea that we live in an interconnected world.
And Galicia is part of that world.
And last but not least, the dragonfly, which is a bit of an…
[photographer] Excuse me. A photo for the Pontevedra Times?
-[Mrs. Jurado] Smile, Elmer. -[distressing chord ringing]
[camera snaps loudly]
I'm going.
[heavy breaths echoing]
[discordant music playing]
[bell rings, distorts]
[gasping]
-[thuds] -[sounds fade]
[footsteps approaching]
[muffled] Are you okay?
-[normal] Can you hear me? Take it easy. -[Elmer sighs]
[girl] It's okay. You fainted.
-No, no, no, no, no. -[Elmer pants]
[girl] Don't get up yet.
-Hey, look at me. -[Elmer grunts]
[girl] It's okay.
[echoes faintly] I'm right here with you. Okay? Just breathe.
["Apocalypse" by Cigarettes After Sex playing]
Do you need any medical attention, or… Should I call an ambulance?
No, no.
-[girl] No? -No.
Okay.
You should drink something. With sugar. I think it could really help.
And I know just where to take you.
What do you say?
Yeah?
I'll help you. All right. Arms out.
-[Elmer] Woah. -[girl chuckles] You good?
♪ Got the music in you, baby Tell me why ♪
♪ You've been locked in here forever And you just can't say goodbye ♪
♪ Your lips, my lips, apocalypse ♪
I think your blood sugar just got a bit low. It's normal.
Happens to my kids sometimes.
I actually keep a few cookies in a drawer in case one of them drops on me.
[Elmer] Sugar's also a really good plant fertilizer.
Are you a gardener?
I am.
-I'm guessing you teach? -Mm-hmm.
Elementary school.
[sighs] I gotta go. I'm actually running late.
You feeling better?
-Yeah, totally. I- I'm much better. -[girl] Good.
-See you around, okay? -[Elmer] Okay.
-[girl] Later. -Later.
[Mrs. Jurado] What happened to you earlier?
[spoon scraping in bowl]
-[Mrs. Jurado] Elmer. -Hm?
Where'd you run off to?
[inhales] I had a headache coming on.
-[Mrs. Jurado] Are you feeling better? -Yeah. A lot better.
-You sure? -[Elmer] Mm-hmm.
Should we get the doctor to take a look at you?
[spoon clatters]
Sure, we can if you want.
Wanna watch a movie later?
Jack.
[through sobs] There's a boat, Jack.
Jack.
["My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic playing]
[woman sobbing on TV]
Going to my room.
[dark, menacing music playing]
[breathing heavily]
[Mrs. Jurado] Okay, now… Oh, no! Something just scared you!
[gasps, laughs] Oh, good job! You did that really well.
Now, we're happy…
[laughing] Very good! Very good, Elmer.
Now… Oh, no! Is that a bug climbing up your shoe?
Gross. It's getting slime all over you!
Ew. Nasty.
There you go. [laughing] You're actually good at that.
Oh boy, now you're so embarrassed!
How embarrassing!
Um… Hm…
Embarrassment is hard. We'll have to work on that one.
Why am I not like everybody else? Is something the matter, Mom?
[Mrs. Jurado] No, you're special.
[bittersweet music playing]
[Mrs. Jurado] You're unique.
[quiet sobs]
[sniffles, sighs]
[heavy breathing]
[music builds]
-[knocking] -[music ends]
[Mrs. Jurado] You all right?
[Elmer sighs]
[Mrs. Jurado] Elmer, is everything all right?
[inhales] Yeah. [sighs]
Yeah, I'm all right.
[breathing deeply]
[girl 1] Viole, you were really quiet during practice.
-You okay? -Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
Well, something weird happened yesterday.
[girl 2] What? What happened?
Nothing. This guy fainted while I was in the square is all.
Yeah. But it wasn't a big deal. Just had low blood sugar.
-You know? -But is he alright now?
Yep.
But more importantly,
was he cute?
[they laugh]
Girl, stop! [chuckles]
I mean, he was pretty cute. Yeah.
And… And he was super… peculiar? I dunno. Not sure.
-Whatever. -[girl 1] What's his name?
No idea. Nope.
[Torres] Hey.
Hey.
Any updates?
No.
I keep thinking about the beach thing.
-What's this? -A gift.
Saw it in a shop. Thought you might like it.
[Carrera chuckles]
[clicks tongue] I'll buy you a beer.
[Torres] Hm.
[bar chatter]
Want another one?
We've already had two.
What's up?
What's going on here, Torres?
Going on? What do you mean?
[inhales, clears throat]
Be honest, all right?
Are you into me?
You hoping we'll screw?
[hushed] Let's go to my place.
Um…
No. That's not a good idea.
No? [clears throat]
I'm sorry. I swear I wasn't trying to put the moves on you.
[inhales, clicks tongue]
Oh, great. [sighs]
-I'm such a dumbass. -[Torres] No, no, no. Wait, wait.
I might've sent you mixed messages, but…
just know I'm not that kind of man.
Oh? [inhales] Then what kind of man are you?
Well, the kind that doesn't cheat on his wife.
[somber music]
[long inhale]
You're paying.
-[door shuts] -[Violeta] Milky…
Come on.
[kisses]
Come on, sweetie. Come here.
Very good. Very good.
-[phone rings] -Oh, you're so thirsty.
[ringing continues]
Hello?
[slow breathing on phone]
I know who this is, and I'm not scared.
Not sure what the point of these calls is, but it's insane.
For the thousandth time,
I'm really sorry about what happened but I didn't kill your son.
Leave me alone.
[distant thunder]
The suit's so formal. I don't know if I need it.
Well, the awards are held at the Santa Clara.
You're not going dressed just like anyone.
And you have to have a little speech prepared.
If you don't know what to say, I, uh… I can give you some ideas?
Would that help? Yeah?
Hello, everyone. [inhales] Um…
Well, first,
I'd like to thank everyone who voted for my work.
Uh, I'd also like to thank all of our loyal customers.
And also every single person who works at the nursery with me and my mother.
And so… [inhales]
…that brings me to my number-one supporter,
because I wouldn't be where I am without her.
[choking up] And that's my mother.
And then you make some kind of gesture.
Like blow a kiss and say, um,
"You mean the world to me, Mom."
[kiss] "Thank you, Mom." And that's it.
[quiet, tender instrumentals playing]
I wouldn't be standing here today,
uh, without the help
and unconditional support of someone special.
Someone who- who makes every day better
just 'cause she's in it.
[chuckles ruefully] So, I'd like to thank… my mother
for giving me life.
Thank you.
[polite applause]
[woman] Way to go, Elmer! Great speech.
I'm so proud of you, sweetheart.
Your garden is like the setting of a fairy tale.
It really is incredible.
Never seen anything like it. You've got quite the gift.
Very talented. I don't know how you do what you do.
Hey!
Oh, hi!
-Have a good night. -[Elmer] Thanks. You too.
-Hello. -Hello, Gardner of the Year!
I saw your picture in the paper, and I thought,
"Well, why not? I'll go and say hi."
-[party chatter] -[soft jazz playing]
Or maybe it was, um, a bad idea. I'm gonna go. Sorry.
No! No, no, no, no, no!
I, uh… I- I'm actually just a little nervous
and don't know what to say.
I'm glad we crossed paths.
I mean, again.
I just wanted to check in on you.
Yeah. I'm great. Thank you.
So, care for a drink, Mr. Gardener of the Year?
-[bossa nova playing in background] -[fountain bubbling]
Don't take this the wrong way. You looked weird in your newspaper photo.
-It was taken the day when I met you. -Ah, there you go.
You were still pretty out of it, weren't you?
So, what got you started in gardening?
-It's the family trade. -Mm-hmm.
I don't know. I guess I've always felt really drawn to plants.
I just feel a connection with them.
Like more than with a person?
They're less complicated.
I have a pet.
And, um, I get along better with my dog than anybody else.
-What's his name? -Milky.
-Milky? -[chuckling] Yeah.
[both laughing]
He's a Jack Russell.
He's very courageous and, um, a cuddler. [sighs contentedly]
You know, when I got him, it was a bad time.
I was living through a nightmare.
So, adopting him felt like a fresh start.
Then, um, one day at a time, he started to make my life better again.
Do you have a dog?
-N-No. No, no. I've- I've never had one. -Hm.
Well, I- I thought about getting one before, but no.
[inhales] Although, after listening to you,
I'm gonna consider it.
-[Violeta] What kind would you get? -[Elmer] One like Milky.
-How come we haven't met before? -[Elmer] Don't get out much, I guess.
[Violeta giggles]
[slow, contemplative music playing]
[laughs quietly]
[knocking at door]
-[sighs deeply] -[Mrs. Jurado] Elmer.
[Elmer sighs]
[takes several deep breaths]
[grunts softly]
-You did wonderful. -[Elmer exhales]
I was really moved by your speech.
I'm really proud of you, Elmer.
Thank you, Mom.
Did you have a good time at the event?
Anything to report?
No.
What do you mean?
Come on. I saw you talking to some girl there.
It seemed like you two had met before.
[exhales]
We actually met by accident.
And you don't see a problem
in talking to a target of a job?
This is the highest-paying client we've ever had, Elmer.
-There will be others. -No, not like this one.
You would need tons of jobs to match this.
And now you wanna stop?
You're playing with fire.
I get that, but I guess I'm just willing to get burned.
-I mean, the risk is on my shoulders. -No, it's on both our shoulders.
If you get caught, you think they won't come for me?
-What did she do to deserve to die? -I don't know!
That's not my business or yours.
We made a commitment, so…
now we have to honor that commitment.
Elmer. Listen, Elmer. Look at me.
With this, we can buy the house in Mexico.
We'll get what's rightfully ours.
Everything I've been working towards all these years.
The paradise I built for the two of us.
It's all within our grasp. But you gotta do this first.
It's the last thing I'll ask of you.
[Elmer exhales sharply]
Please just do it.
[eerie musical notes build]
I'll do it then.
[stirring organ note playing]
[rhythmic, suspenseful music playing]
[Milky barking]
[kisses] Hey!
[rhythmic beat playing]
[Violeta] Get in.
[music builds]
[thrilling organ riffs]
[music reaches a climax, fades away]
[crows cawing]
[car approaching]
[Milky barking]
-[engine shuts off] -[Milky continues barking]
[car door shuts]
-[Milky barks louder] -[Violeta] C'mon. Let's go.
Come on.
[Milky whines]
[single, ominous note playing]
Oh, hi.
Hey. Why are you here?
I come here when I need a bit of inspiration.
Like sunflowers for Van Gogh or Monet with his waterlilies.
-Oh. -I've heard there's a path here. The, uh…
-Wolf's Lair, or something? -Wolf's Lair.
-You know it? -Yeah. It's pretty.
You'll like it. Yeah.
And why are you here?
-[Milky barks] -[Violeta] Oh, I come a lot to walk Milky.
-Yeah. -Ah. What a crazy coincidence.
Us running into each other here.
It is.
And is that your van?
Yeah. That's my van.
It's the nursery's, not mine, but, you know. Close enough, right?
Hey, so, um, I've got some little chestnut sprouts.
Would you want to plant one?
-Now? -Yeah.
I'd really like that.
[low, ominous chords playing]
-C'mon. -[Violeta] Okay.
-[Milky barks] -[Violeta] Oh, wait. Sorry. Milky!
Milky!
-Milky! -[foreboding organ chord playing]
[Violeta] Milky! Get back here.
[sweetly] Let's go. Let's go. [kisses]
[music builds]
[music ends abruptly]
["Gilded Lily" by Cults playing]
♪ Now it's been long enough To talk about it ♪
♪ I've started not… ♪
[Violeta] Sorry, I just needed to know whether I'd like kissing you.
♪ Just wrap my head around it ♪
♪ I remember when… ♪
So what did you think?
I think I like it.
What did you think?
Yeah, it was pretty great.
-[birds calling, flapping wings] -[Milky barking]
♪ Haven't I given enough, given enough? ♪
♪ Always the fool ♪
♪ With the slowest heart ♪
♪ But I know you'll take me with you ♪
♪ We'll live in spaces between walls ♪
♪ Always the fool ♪
♪ With the slowest heart ♪
♪ But I know you'll take me with you ♪
♪ I know I'll take you with me ♪
♪ Always the fool ♪
♪ With the slowest heart ♪
♪ But I know you'll take me with you ♪
♪ We'll live in spaces between walls ♪