[1] An executive director makes an impassioned speech before a tribunal, pleading for the release of world prisoners held in death camps based on verified testimonial evidence.

He steps aside, and allows Inés, an Argentine torture victim, to give her testimony, dressed in a raincoat and with dark glasses to protect her identity.

[2] Moved by the speech, Luis, an acting instructor, decides to write a play about victims of political repression and torture.

While Luis is having dental work done by Manuel (and calling his equipment "medieval torture devices"), he has a vision of three men apprehending Emilia and blindfolding her in the back of a vehicle.

The next day, Emilia arrives at Luis's drama school as he's instructing his students to work on their body performance in their acting; at his insistence she joins in, though reluctant to fully participate.

In the next scene, Luis is driving along a country road, is suddenly struck by a painful renal colic, parks his vehicle in a field, and lies down on his back, wondering if he's about to die.