El lápiz del carpintero

El lápiz del carpintero

Capítulo por capítulo

Capítulo 1Present Spain 1990sCarlos Sousa- Journalist, Daniel & Marisa

Da Barca’s backgroundInterview with Da Barca

Capítulo 2Present day Spain – Brothel near to GaliciaHerbal Maria (his favourite prostitute)

Description of Herbal now + Description of what goes on at Brothel.

Capítulo 3Herbal’s flashback of his Uncle shooting fox.

Murder of painter by Herbal (mercy killing)

Capítulo 4Civil War 1936 SantiagoHerbal saves painter from tortureDescribes events preceding Civil War (arrests of

Republicans etc)Scene of prisoners in prison – Discussing religion and

Science.Story of Life and Death (white shoes / black shoes)

Capítulo 5Santiago Summer 1936 – History of PencilDescriptions of Painter drawing el pórtico de la Gloria

on the Cathedral. Draws faces of his fellow prisoners.

Capítulo 6Before the war / Before Da Barca’s imprisonmentHerbal Painter Da Barca

Painter goes to see Da Barca in Tuberculosis asylum.Herbal describes how he was tracking Da Barca.Conversation between Herbal and Sergeant.Herbal gives his detailed report.

Description of Herbal’s childhood illness + His joining army & taking part in crushing minor’s revolt in Asturias.

Da Barca’s arrest.

Capítulo 7Flashback to Herbal’s childhoodDescription of Marisa related to Herbal’s childhood.Herbal describes affection for his Sister.Father abused Herbal (wanted to swap him for a pig)

Capítulo 8Santiago 1936 – Early days of warHerbal has the pencil – Change in his personality /

voiceMarisa brings gun but Herbal changes the bullets.

Fascists come for Da Barca, he lies and tells them he’s being moved to La Coruña.

Herbal convinces his Sergeant to let him go.

Capítulo 9La coruña – After Da Barca’s move

Description of prison + prison ‘outings’ (killings)Herbal talking to Painter through pencil – Painter

convinces him to save Da Barca by not shooting him with others.

+ A third time – shoots him through neck not to kill him. Da Barca is saved and taken to hospital.

Capítulo 10La coruña – Summer 1936 Description of prison – Da Barca court-martialled and

sentenced to death.Involvement of Cuban gvtDescription of Dombodan’s story – Stupid man mixed

up in things he doesn’t understand – Da Barca defends Dombodan instead of himself at trial.

Capítulo 11La coruña 1936 Da Barca’s sentence changed to life imprisonmentHe becomes camp Doctor , helps Nurse and DoctorPrisoners set up their musical orchestra. Pepe

Sanchez the singer is shot.

Capítulo 12La coruña 1936 Dombodán and Pepe Sanchez have been shotDa Barca very depressedImaginary dinner with rest of patients – Convinces

them they are eating a feast

Capítulo 13

La coruña 1936

Herbal talking to painter through pencil – Illness is better.

Herbal’s dream about Marisa and bike.Painter leaves to look for his son.Scene with Herbal in Sister’s house – Violence of

husband. Herbal thinks about killing him.

Capítulo 14La Coruña – 1939Franco wins victory Prisoners disrupt mass by coughing.Marisa visits Da BarcaHerbal feels uneasy when painter leavesReports Da Barca for having radio (turning bad again)Herbal turns bad and vents anger on prisoners – plays tricks on

them until painter returns from looking for his son.

Capítulo 15Galicia 1939- 1940

Party at Marisa’s houseHistory of her GrandfatherHe admits he tried to get Da Barca killedFather tells Marisa he has arranged for Da Barca to be

moved to Valencia.

Valencia

Capítulo 16La coruña railway station 1942-1943?

Description of tuberculosis train taking Da Barca and prisoners.

Marisa runs along platform and embraces him.

Capítulo 17La coruña railway station 1942-1943?Train en route to Valencia – Stuck in snow in between

Coruña and Madrid (León)

Da Barca and Marisa’s embrace again + Herbal describes their kiss in rain.

Train stuck in snow. Prisoners eaten food, prisoners dying. Herbal and Lieutenant walk to Leon station – find a commanding officer.

Da Barca brings prisoner through snow…Lieutenant knocks Da Barca down & Herbal helps him up. Da Barca performs an operation but patient dies later in asylum (we hear)

Capítulo 18Valencia – After the war Da Barca writes love letters for prisoners. He has

married Marisa at distanceFriendship of Da Barca and Nun(mother Izarne) – Nun

hates Herbal – Herbal opening prisoners’ letters – Reading Marisa to

Da Barca.Da Barca is sending ‘football’ letters about secret

movements. He is caught, imprisoned and moved.

Capítulo 19After war – Valencia to Galicia train

Da Barca travelling to be put onto island with Herbal and Sergeant. Herbal dreams about scars as memories, people chiselling memories into him.

Marisa gets on train – they leave them. Sergeant pays Herbal and they give them their wedding night.

Da Barca is taken to San Simón island.

Capítulo 20Present day –Brothel in Galicia

Herbal reflecting on good effect they had on his lifeSays Da Barca was released + Marisa had his child

and they emigrated and returned.Describes murdering sister’s brother.Painter visited him in prison and he had been ill.

Herbal goes out and dies ‘Phantom pain.