Diez Minutos

This is Airfone, my name is Nuria.

May I help you? TEN MINUTES Yes, good evening.

I'd like some information, please. May I please have

your phone number? 637546189. Your name, please? Enrique Gonzalez Martin. Your identification number? Yeah, it's 3356477658. And your home address, please? 91 Principe de Vergara, 4D. Yes, sir.

What information would you like? Look, it's very simple.

At 19:35 this afternoon a call was made

from this phone. I'd like to know

what number was called. I understand.

You say that at 19:35 you made a call to another number.

Is that correct? -The call was made from my phone.

-One moment, please. Thanks for waiting.

I'm instructed that you can check the last 10 calls made

on your own receiver. I know, the problem is I've made

more than 10 calls since then. I can't provide you

with that information. Why not? It's unavailable. You have a record of all the calls

I make, right? Then I get the bill

with the number called. The duration and the time

of the call. Is that right? Exactly. You can consult the bill

when you receive it. But I need it right now. I'm instructed not to provide you

with that information. Okay, look. Am I Speaking

to a computer or to a human being? This is Airfone customer service. I just want to know if

you're a computer or a person. You're speaking with a person. Then don't say you can't provide me

with the information, okay? Can I speak with a supervisor? I'm instructed not to transfer calls. Want anything

from the machine? Sir, if you have any -other questions...

-Yes. I want to know

what number was called at 19:35 this afternoon

from my cell phone. That's all. I understand, but... I'm not asking

for the hell of it. This information

is extremely important to me. Look, my girlfriend left me.

She left earlier today. Have you got a boyfriend? We're not allowed to give

any personal information. Oh, right. It was just so you'd understand. You've been in love before.

haven't you? I understand, but I repeat... Hold on a second. Look. She was here packing her bags

earlier and she called a friend to pick her up. She used my phone because she'd canceled hers.

I don't know her friend's number. If you give me the number.

I can call her. You see how important

this is for me? Nevertheless.

that information is unavailable. What does that mean?

“Unavailable"? Can't you just look up the call

on the billing program? I know the exact time

because I checked the clock. It was 7:35.

- 19:35. I understand... You understand what? Can you understand desperation? The feeling of powerlessness? What's the world coming to.

If we can't help each other? Nuria. Imagine it's the other way around. Imagine I'm there

and you need the number. Wouldn't you ask me

if this is customer service? Why deny me information I'll get

anyway when I get the bill? I'm instructed that I really can't

give you that information. Is there a more personal version

of customer service? This is the only Airfone

customer service line. Can't you ask one of your

coworkers how to find the info? Maybe by calling

another department? I'm begging you. Please hold a moment. Thanks for holding.

I'm instructed that for user security no telephone

records can be facilitated. For my security?

Aren't you listening to me? If you have any other questions... Look. Nuria. I'm not stupid, and neither are you.

So don't treat me like I am. We'll be here all night, I'm not

hanging up until I get that number. You should know

there's a time limit for calls made to this service. Or what? I get electrocuted

by my cell phone? When the limit is reached

the call is interrupted. I'll call back. Correct. You can do that. But it wouldn't be you, right? There's plenty of us.

You might do better. Look, you've got

a sense of humor! You really are a person! Look, Marta, my girlfriend. Has taken a job abroad.

A great job in New York City. What she's always wanted. Her dream.

She asked me to go with her. But I can't decide.

Well. I couldn't. Earlier today as she was

cleaning out her drawers and closed her suitcase... I suddenly felt so empty inside. Then she left, closed the door.

and I just sat there. Who knows how long.

staring at the door... I'd never heard such silence. Since she left. Nothing makes sense anymore. I can't live without her. I know it's a cliché.

but it's true. It's a matter of life or death.

She's leaving tomorrow. Can't you understand? Can't you, dam nit? I need that number right away. Right now! Are you there? I'm instructed that I really

cannot provide you with that information. What are we doing?

Is this human contact? Who the hell cares

about the rules? Imagine you're at a crosswalk. It says “Don't walk"

and a little girl tries to cross and falls.

A truck is about to run her over. Wouldn't you save her? You'd be in no danger.

Wouldn't you save her? -But...

-Would you? Yes or no? -Yes or no?

-Yes. Yes! Yes! That's the first "yes"

you've given me all night. "Yes.“ You'd save her. But you'd have to ignore

the "Don't walk" sign to do it. You'd have to break a rule. And by breaking a rule.

you'd save a life. This is the same thing.

Please, give me the number. Nuria. I know you're not a computer.

Prove it to me. Give me the number. I can't provide that info.

I'm sorry. No. Before you said "yes.“

Not “correct." Or "affirmative." or "nevertheless." I bet they forbid you to say "yes"

in the training course. "Yes.“ or “Good day." or anything

that makes you sound human. But you said "yes.“ Because you're

human and you were listening to me. Part of you understands me and knows how important this is

and how long we've been talking. It's been almost 10 minutes. I hope that isn't

the time limit. I'm afraid so. Look, I'm very sorry

but there's nothing I can do. If you have any other questions.

I'd be happy to answer them. You have no idea

how I feel right now. How I feel inside, in my gut. My whole stomach is empty. Like a void. Like a huge sphere inside. Empty and painful. I've only felt like this

once in my life. You'll laugh. I had a puppy when I was a kid. A real ugly one, actually. Just a mutt. But I loved her. Her name was Mina.

We all loved her. My dad, my mom, me... Then one Christmas Eve

she disappeared. My dad and I went shopping

and she disappeared. We looked all day.

everywhere. But nothing. She was gone.

She was gone. So we had dinner anyway.

Imagine the mood. And then that TV commercial

came on. With the song.

"Come home, come home..." "Come home, come home for Christmas... It's Christmas Eve

and tomorrow's Christmas day..." We all started crying. I felt that emptiness inside.

just like now. They should take that damn

commercial off the air. How many people

has it devastated? Everyone misses someone

who'll never be home for Christmas. Maybe they should just go ahead

and cancel fucking Christmas. Nuria, are you there? Need a hand? "I'm instructed that Christmas should be

fucking canceled." For once your silence

makes you human. Did she come back? Who, my puppy?

Yeah, we found her the next day. Sorry to leave you

hanging like that. Have you got a dog? It's funny, isn't it? Your silence finally

makes you speak. What kind of dog? Don't tell me.

It's "personal information." German Shepherd? No. A poodle? No. Cooker Spaniel? You've got a Cooker Spaniel! They're very friendly. That means you must be

a good person. It took some time. But it came out in the end. Nuria... You know the number, right? The call made at 19:35? It's right in front of you. I can't... But you know it. Nuria... Is the first number nine? No. Six? It's six. A cell phone, right? Is the second number zero? No. -One? -Two? Three? Three. It's three.

Is the next number zero? -No.

-One? -No.

-Two? No. -Three? -Four? -Five? Six? Six? Six.

Is the next number zero? Is it zero? Come on. Next number zero? -No.

-One? -No.

-Two? -Two?

-No, no. Sorry. Three? -No.

-Four? -No.

-Five? -Six? It's six. Shit, we're almost out of time. Next number. Is it... one? -No.

-Two? -Three? -No.

-Four? -No.

-Five? -Six? Seven? -Eight? -Nine? That's all of them! No! Zero? Zero! Shit. I forgot zero. Is the next number zero? -No.

-One? It's one. Two more, right? -Next number zero?

-No. -One? -Two? -Three? -Four? -Five? Six? -No.

Seven? It's seven! One more. Nuria. Nine? Eight? We're sorry to inform you that

the time limit has been exceeded. Thank you for calling Airfone. Shit! Shit! One fucking number! I must be an idiot. Hello? Hello, is Marta there please? -You've got a wrong number.

-I'm sorry. Hello? May I speak with Marta please? Yes, hold on. I'll get her.