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CUT TO:

INT. ISABEL'S HOSPITAL ROOM -- THAT AFTERNOON

ISABEL is awake when PAUL enters the room. He notes how she tenses when she first realizes someone is in the room and then relaxes again when she recognizes him. She beckons him closer with a weak flutter of her hand.

ISABEL:

(weakly)

You Ess?

This time he hears her clearly and nods.

PAUL:

(nodding)

Yes. The US. You are in the United States. You're safe, now.

A weak smile flickers across her lips, and she nods. A great weight is lifted from her and she settles back into the pillows.

ROSALIE enters and moves about the bed, checking the monitors, the IV, the oxygen tube, and the bedclothes. PAUL moves to the foot of the bed, both to be out of Rosalie's way and to review Isabel's chart once again.

ROSALIE:

She looks better this afternoon.

PAUL:

(without looking up)

A little.

She frowns at him and continues moving about the bed. Isabel murmurs softly to herself.

ROSALIE:

What's that?

ISABEL continues speaking but her voice is barely audible. ROSALIE bends over the girl to hear better. Listens for a moment then straightens up.

ROSALIE:

(to Paul)

I think she's speaking Spanish.

PAUL:

(nodding)

I suppose that makes sense.

ROSALIE:

How's that?

Paul motions for them to go out into the hall.

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE ISABEL'S ROOM -- CONTINUOUS

ROSALIE follows PAUL out into the hall and closes the door softly behind her.

ROSALIE:

You're not surprised she speaks Spanish?

PAUL:

(shaking his head)

It's a common enough story. She trades her last bits of gold, rings and broaches, heirlooms handed down in her family for generations, for transport to America. Instead, she's beaten and raped and thrown overboard to die.

ROSALIE:

But she didn't die. You saved her.

PAUL:

Not yet.

ROSALIE:

You will.

PAUL:

For what? We'll have to report her to the INS if the police haven't already. When she's well enough they'll send her back. Most likely she'll try again and keep on trying until she succeeds -- or dies trying.

ROSALIE:

(facetiously)

Then don't save her.

PAUL:

I have to save her.

ROSALIE:

Of course you do.

PAUL:

If I can.

CUT TO:

INT. PAUL'S OFFICE -- THE NEXT AFTERNOON

MICHAEL, a friend and linguistic specialist from the university, enters and takes a seat facing Paul. He is quietly excited.

PAUL:

Michael. Thank you for coming on such short notice. Have you talked with the girl?

MICHAEL:

I have.

PAUL:

And?

MICHAEL:

Unbelievable.

PAUL:

What? Were you able to understand her? One of our nurses who's fluent in Spanish said she thought it might be Portuguese.

MICHAEL:

It's not Portuguese. It's Indian. And old. Really old. I'm not an expert on ancient languages but I think it's Nahuatl.

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