As Luck Would Have It 2013

As Roberto Gómez (played by) navigates the desolate landscape of his own unemployment, he clings to the fragile sense of purpose afforded by his marriage. His wife, Luisa, endeavors to buoy his spirits as he sets out for a meeting with old acquaintance Javier Gándara. However, the encounter only serves to further deflate Roberto’s already dwindling confidence. Upon arrival, he is met with frosty indifference from former colleagues, and Gándara’s curt dismissal drives the final nail into his professional coffin.

As Roberto’s emotional state teeters on the brink of collapse, he impulsively embarks on a journey down memory lane, revisiting the hotel where he and Luisa spent their idyllic honeymoon. His arrival, however, finds him confronting an unwelcome reality: the once-romantic retreat has been transformed into a hub for archaeological excavations. As Roberto wanders aimlessly through the site during a press event, his sense of disorientation is exacerbated by the presence of security guard Claudio.

A sudden and precipitous fall sends Roberto crashing to the ground, leaving him immobile and helpless. Claudio’s subsequent assessment reveals that Roberto’s skull has become impaled upon a spike, plunging him into a desperate situation. As Claudio departs to summon aid, Roberto is left grappling with the cruel irony of his predicament.

As news of his accident spreads like wildfire through the press corps, Roberto’s plight is misinterpreted as a deliberate act of self-harm. Luisa, distraught and helpless, receives an anguished call from her husband, only to be met with the heart-wrenching reality that nobody seems willing or capable of taking responsibility for his precarious situation.

In the face of mounting chaos and speculation, Roberto’s predicament becomes a media sensation, drawing in a cast of characters including Mayor Alcalde, museum director Mercedes, and Dr. Velasco, a medical professional who proves reluctant to intervene. As the powers that be squabble over how to resolve the crisis without tarnishing their own reputations, Roberto remains trapped, his fate hanging precariously in the balance.

As Roberto’s desperation to provide for his family grows, he embarks on a questionable journey to monetize his situation. He hires Johnny, a shrewd agent, who sets out to peddle product placements and exclusive interviews. Despite Luisa’s disapproval, she’s powerless to stop her husband from pursuing this path. Johnny manages to pique the interest of Álvaro Aguirre, a influential media executive, but only if Roberto agrees to remain at the site of the accident, as any interview conducted in the hospital would be worthless to him. Aguirre offers a staggering sum of several million euros for a posthumous interview, but Johnny is unable to convince him to invest without a guarantee.

Luisa grows increasingly concerned that Roberto is sacrificing quality time with his family in favor of financial pursuits; she urges him to reconnect with their children and prioritize their needs. At her behest, he reaches out to his kids, requesting they visit him at the hospital. Meanwhile, Mercedes offers to release Roberto from the spike, but the others intervene, recognizing that this would only worsen his condition.

As Dr. Velasco deliberates on the best course of action, Johnny approaches Luisa with the offer for a posthumous interview. Enraged by her husband’s potential exploitation, she fires Johnny and threatens to take matters into her own hands if he dares approach Roberto again. Unbeknownst to Roberto, Luisa has terminated Johnny’s services; when he inquires about their progress, she conceals the truth, revealing that Johnny has secured a lucrative contract worth hundreds of thousands of euros. Eager to provide for his family financially, Roberto grants an emotional interview to Pilar Álvarez, a local television reporter handpicked by Luisa.

Álvarez discreetly hands the tape to Luisa, aware that its value lies in the right buyer’s hands. As Roberto is lifted from the spike and succumbs to delirium, he describes vivid smells as his wound bleeds profusely. Claudio offers a sympathetic ear to Luisa as she anxiously awaits Dr. Velasco’s report.

Days later, Dr. Velasco returns with a grim expression. As Roberto’s family rushes to his side, they’re met with the devastating news that he has succumbed to his injuries during surgery. The crowd, now swollen with onlookers drawn in by the media frenzy, collectively reacts with dismay and despair. Many shed tears as Aguirre arrives at the museum, personally offering Luisa a staggering sum for the tape, which she refuses silently and with bitter resentment.