[uneasy music playing]
[theme music playing]
WE WERE KINGS
[Herminia] I went with your grandfather to San Hipólito
to buy the pendants for your first Communion.
And he said to me, "These two have lost their father,
but I'm going to make sure they develop into honorable men."
"And San Judas will help me."
And look at you.
[thud]
You dropped this, pendejo.
[Javo gasps]
-Abuela… -[Herminia scoffs]
Poor Sonia is worried sick.
She knows you were there to paint the wall.
She knows it was you.
And I lied to protect you.
[voice breaking] Now, I'm complicit. Because I had to hide
the fact that it was actually my dumbass grandson who took her mother.
They made me do it, Abuela.
Those men threatened to kill me and my whole family.
They threatened to hurt my mom and Heidi, and even Santitos!
[loudly] Who, Javo? Who made these threats?
[quietly] I'm not allowed to say.
And it's best if we keep it that way. And that you don't mention this to anyone.
Everything you say is a lie, Javier!
Your brother is a police officer, you know Ortega.
Just speak up, and you know the cops will arrest the bastards.
[quietly] I'm sorry.
I don't know why I waste my time with you.
You're nothing but a criminal.
-Always have been. -[Javo exhales]
Alicia needs her medication, take them to her.
How, Abuela? I don't know where the hell they're hiding her.
Only God knows how strongly I've loved you, Javier.
They say grandparents don't have a favorite grandchild, but that's a lie.
From the very first moment I held you in my arms, Javo…
[sobs]
…I felt a love so intense.
[sobs, sniffles]
Such a love
I never imagined even remotely existed.
[cries]
Because of that love I feel for you,
here, in front of la Vírgen,
you will swear to me that you will return Doña Alicia safe and sound or else.
Or else, I swear you and I will never ever speak again!
-[Herminia sobs] -Don't cry, Grandma.
Abuel…
I swear I'll do everything in my power to earn your forgiveness.
But please look at me.
Stop. [sobs]
[pleading] Please, Abuela.
[Herminia sobs quietly]
Grandma…
[poignant music playing]
[Mike] What's up, bro?
-I was looking for you. -Hey, 'sup?
I need you to help me reconstruct what happened that night.
Yeah, later.
No, not later. Right now. Let's go.
Where'd the assailant come from, I don't understand?
I don't know, cabrón.
Okay.
Santos drew his weapon. Hm? Did he point it at the guy?
What the fuck, Mike.
Relax, carnal. The safe's on.
[tense music playing]
Alright. You be the assailant now.
What'd that fucker do? How did he grab Santo's gun?
Javo, help me out!
-What happened? Did they struggle? -Yeah.
How?
I don't know, bro. It was dark, and I was very drunk, okay?
Hey, man. Just try.
Well?
They were both hugging.
How?
It looked a little bit like they were hugging.
-Wh… Tussling, though, right? -Yes.
-Uh-huh. -Then the shot rang out.
Okay. Bang.
-[Javo gasps] -And then?
[music continues]
[Mike] Carnal? Hey, what's wrong?
You're pale, brother!
[neighbor] Mike! Javo! I think they caught Santos' killer.
[Javo panting softly]
[Mike] Let's go.
-[commotion] -[man] Move it!
[perpetrator grunts]
[Zacarías] What is your name, you son of a bitch?
Lucas Bermúdez.
This is the end of the road for you, you worthless piece of shit!
[Lucas] But, why? When I didn't do anything!
Don't play stupid.
This motherfucker killed Santos. He's got his gun.
[Lucas] I swear I haven't killed anyone. I swear!
I found the gun in the dumpster!
-[neighbor] Let's kill the motherfucker. -[man 2] Let's get some rope!
-[commotion] -[man 3] Kill him!
[Nora] Enough! I said no!
Stop this now! No one's gonna be lynched here!
Enough! What the fuck is happening here?
[Zacarías] Javo, we've caught Santos's killer.
Is that true, Javo? Do you recognize him?
-Son. -[Mike] Javo!
[Malena] I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch! Let me go!
-[commotion] -That motherfucker killed my Santos!
-I'll take him! -Why are you protecting him, Miguel Ángel?
He murdered Santos!
No, I want to ensure that justice is served.
-[Malena] You're an accomplice! -[Mike] I am following the law!
[Malena] A fucking accomplice! [sobs]
-Let me go! -Calm down! Mike is right! Get him!
-[commotion] -[man 4] Wait!
[man 5] The son of a bitch is getting away!
[man 6] Go, go, go!
[Lucas] I found the gun in the dumpster!
-[neighbor] Let's kill the motherfucker! -[man] Yeah.
Let's hang the son of a bitch. You're done for.
You know what, Ortega?
I have a feeling that asshole's telling the truth.
Look, Miguel Reyes, have you ever talked to felons?
[Mike sighs]
They are never gonna tell you they're guilty.
Everybody's innocent.
Fucking thugs.
He's not lying.
Something in his eyes, man.
-In his voice. -[chuckles]
So you really believe he just found the weapon?
Well,
there's only one way to prove it.
Poor asshole can't hide forever.
Let's go, come on.
["Pistola" by $antana1000000 ft. El Licenciado playing]
[singing in Spanish]
There's your dough. Two hundred big ones. Count it.
Go ahead.
[Javo] No need, Jefe. I trust you. And I didn't come for that.
Okay, go on.
You and I know very well there's no future in the business my uncle's in.
I want to work for you, sir.
[chuckles]
And doing what, exactly?
You know, Jefe. What I did the other day.
[music playing distantly]
Chano!
Take your shirt off, cabrón.
Take it off, I said!
I'm not wired, Boss.
[Javo pants]
And I'm not hiding anything under this either.
I thought you didn't like what I was doing.
Do you know how much time it takes me to earn 200,000 pesos
scrapping stolen cars?
I'm disappointed, Javo.
You're changing the way you think for that pathetic tiny amount.
It's not just the cash, though, Jefe.
I've thought about what you said to me the other day.
I'm sick and tired of working day and night
while all those motherfucking banker cocksuckers,
I mean, like the old lady's daughter,
always get off by taking good citizens' houses in our neighborhood.
I like you, and I want to believe you.
But you can't waltz into this business because you feel like it.
Gotta prove yourself.
Kidnapping the old lady wasn't proof enough?
[chuckles]
You mean "operation shitshow," is that it?
It's a miracle we're not all locked up, to tell you the truth, cabrón.
[bottle taps on table]
But you know what? I'm liking you.
I'm liking you and your 200,000 pesos balls.
Ah!
Well, you tell me, Boss. What do I gotta do?
[tense music swells, then fades]
[phone rings]
[ring]
-[continues ringing] -[suspenseful music playing]
[beep]
Hello?
[muffled voice] We are watching you, bitch, you hear?
Better not try anything stupid,
or you will never see your fucking mom again, am I clear?
[breath shudders] Yes, it's clear.
[Javo] That's what I wanna hear, little slut. Listen carefully.
If you wanna see your mom again, you have to pay us one million in cash.
-Dollars. -What?
N… No, no, no, no, no. I don't have that kind of cash.
[Javo shushing] Don't play dumb.
We know very well that your old lady's got loads of money.
We know she's got some properties, cars too.
[Sonia] Yes, but I can't touch those properties without her authorization.
One million dollars. You heard us.
Look, I don't have that kind of money
nor am I free to just get it.
But it's very important that you give my mom her medication,
because she is in delica…
-[line disconnects] -Hello?
[breath trembles]
[shudders]
[Javo] So, Jefe? Proof enough for you?
[chuckles] Proof enough?
You mean that stupid little phone call you just made, boy?
Chano!
Call Pitbull.
And tell him we're going for a ride with Javo.
You know how much this ring here is worth?
It's an original Tiffany's.
My husband bought it for me in New York
for our silver wedding anniversary.
It's yours if you just make a call.
[door opens]
[Venegas] Hello, hello.
How's my lady doing?
Have they treated you with the respect you deserve?
[Pitbull] Get the stuff.
[Alicia] Yes, really well, thank you.
But I don't have my medication.
[Venegas] Yeah, yeah, yeah.
They already told me you got a little anxious about that.
Don't worry. Go on.
[tense music playing]
[Alicia, alarmed] No. What's that?
-No! No! -[Venegas] Calm down.
-Your medicine, grandma. That's it. -[Alicia] No, please. No!
[exclaims anxiously]
And they say they don't have 1,000,000 dollars.
Remorseless assholes, huh?
[takes deep breath]
You wanted to prove yourself, Javo?
Well, then.
Cut her finger off.
[tense music continues]
Go on, bro.
[Venegas] The ring finger.
It's the finger we use the least, according to Harvard University.
[music swells, then ends]
[Mike] Hello.
Can you look at this photo and tell me if you've seen this person around?
His name is Lucas.
No.
He was last seen in San Miguel Teotongo.
He's the prime suspect in the murder of a police officer.
You sure you haven't seen him round here?
-No. -[engine starts]
Nah, see, Alicia's got a thing with her blood. Like, it won't clot, I think.
-[Pitbull scoffs] -If I cut her finger off…
[Pitbull] Cut the bullshit!
Maybe you're being a pussy, huh, puto? [laughs]
[Venegas] Back off, Pitbull.
How do you know this?
My grandma told us.
She got hurt bad once,
and they took her to the hospital to stop the bleeding, alright?
[sighs] Jefe, if I were you, I wouldn't risk it.
He's making that up, boss.
He just pulled that bullshit out of his ass.
Fine. Don't believe me? Go ahead, brah.
Huh?
She dies, and that your problem.
And what happens if she dies, huh, Jefe?
No ransom, no nothing because of you, Pitbull.
That'll be fun to watch, cabrón.
Oh, who's the little pussy now, huh? You fucking yappy-ass chihuahua!
[Venegas] Hey, hey, hey.
Stay calm, Pitbull.
You just got fucked up the ass.
Now let go.
[sternly] Let go!
[Javo grunts]
Oh, one more thing, my Pitbull.
Don't you dare overstep, you hear me?
The only one who decides who lives or dies, Pitbull,
is your boss.
Go on now.
[dramatic sting]
Good afternoon.
How are you?
I thought you weren't gonna get up until later.
Mike…
I wanted to apologize to you.
I'm sorry for behaving like a fucking nutcase.
You don't need to apologize at all, Male.
I was just doing my job.
Seems I haven't thanked you for that either.
[baby fusses]
For everything you've done so far.
[baby cries softly]
Hey, uh, can I ask you a favor?
Watch him while I shower, just for a moment?
-Uh, of course. -I won't be long. Thanks.
For sure.
[baby coos softly]
Yes, my love. Yes, my love.
[chuckles]
[soft music playing]
[dramatic sting]
[shower running distantly]
[soft music continues]
[door closes]
[chuckling] Well, well, well, well, now.
-Oh, what's the matter, huh? -Hey.
Mamá!
Malena asked me to watch Santitos while she showers.
Huh. Hey, come. I got something to ask you.
-I need you to do me a favor. -Of course, Ma. Anything.
I wanna know who baby Santos' dad is. Your brother won't tell me.
Mamá, you know I gotta deal with much more important stuff.
Oh, but Santitos growing up without a father is not important. Hm!
Yeah, Ma. You're right, but…
-I mean… -Do it for me.
Go and find out.
Okay, Ma.
[reggaeton music playing]
[Taiguer] So what? That story about the lady's blood, that true?
Course not, Taiguer.
Got that shit from some leaflet I saw once.
Ha. Alright. I'm counting 200K, my boy.
Where's the fucking GPS we got from that Audi?
[Taiguer] What you need it for?
I need to know where the fuck they're hiding the old lady.
Hey, shh. Keep a cool head!
We can't mess this up.
This ain't your problem. This is my shit to deal with.
-Ha! No way. Your father'd kill me. -[horn honking]
Come in, enano!
[Taiguer whistles]
Look at that! [chuckles]
What a beauty!
[reggaeton music continues]
It's that rich kid's we've spotted lately.
You alright, carnal?
Well, this pendejo messed with Venegas.
-Venegas-Venegas? -Yeah, I didn't know who he was, dude.
Chingado, güey! I gotta find Pitbull.
Relax, carnal.
We got you, okay?
NAILS AND MORE
[Malena sings lullaby in Spanish]
[Malena humming]
He was crying so I picked him up.
It's fine. [chuckles softly]
When Santos was a baby,
I'd sing that to him to put him to sleep like this.
[Heidi] Hm.
-[baby fussing softly] -[Heidi and Malena shush]
-Would you like to learn it? -Hm.
-[they chuckle softly] -[baby fusses]
-[Pitbull] Wear that babydoll you like. -[man] No way, man!
[Pitbull chuckles] I'm just joking man.
CONVENIENCE STORE
[upbeat music playing]
-[Pitbull] See you later. -[man] See you, bro.
[Javo] The GPS is indicating this way.
-[Taiguer] You sure? -Yeah.
[Taiguer] Alright, hang on.
-That one. That's Pitbull's truck. -Here?
-Yes, yes, it's there. -What?
I told you they covered my head that day, Taiguer.
[Taiguer] Well, then let's wait and see if this is where they're hiding her.
Be patient, Javo.
-What you doing? -Wait here.
-Hey. Come here, pendejo! Come here! -I'll have a look.
-Wait for me. Be right back. -No, don't be stupid, come here!
Ah, Javo!
[reggaeton music playing]
[woman moaning distantly]
[woman continues moaning]
[woman] Oh, baby!
Yeah. Oh, grab me like that, yeah.
-[Pitbull] Yeah? -[woman] Grab me, yeah. [moaning]
Yeah, Pitbull, fuck me like that.
[both moaning]
[moaning continues]
[moaning intensifies]
IZTAPALAPA MUNICIPALITY
[Mike] They were Santos's footprints, I'm certain.
They were our boots, from here at the force.
And the other ones were his mother's.
-[police radio chatter] -Malena.
The prints were outside the bathroom?
Yeah.
Outside the bathroom where Javo said that he saw Santos vomiting.
But she told me that she didn't see Santos or Javo.
Ay, cabrón!
You suspect his own mother did it?
[scoffs] Don't be stupid, Ortega.
Look, all I'm saying
is that I know one of them is lying.
-Either Javo or Malena. -[Ortega] Mm-hm.
Or both.
I got a problem, Ortega.
A really big one.
Let it out.
I'm into Malena.
[soft music playing]
But for real, bro.
What's the problem with that, bro?
Because I can't get her out of my head.
Her… Her smile.
[chuckles softly]
How she smells.
Her beautiful brown hair.
How'd it happen?
You know, how'd you realize that?
[chuckles] Well, I mean, since I was a kid.
I'd see her all the time, and she seemed so…
wholehearted.
What do you mean by that?
She's cleaned houses,
she's… she's sold corn, made piñatas,
she's worked in factories.
She did everything to provide for her little boy.
Always with so much dignity.
Such a woman, you know?
Well, yeah, but
a person doesn't just fall in love with someone 'cause they work hard.
She's got a nice ass too.
Don't pretend like you don't like her ass.
Well, yeah, I mean, but… [chuckles]
But that can't be everything.
That neighborhood has plenty of pretty girls.
Malena, though,
is something else. [chuckles]
I look at her and…
[Ortega chuckles]
[groans] Fuck!
[Ortega laughs]
[snorts, clears throat]
Nah, man. You, my friend, are in deep.
I say, just speak to her.
Tell her she rocks your world, bro.
But, bro, she's my homie's mother.
And she is Javo's godmother, but so what?
I know that Santos…
With all due respect, and may his soul rest in eternal glory…
Santos wouldn't mind if you went for it.
Think so, Ortega?
For sure.
The dance for the police force is happening soon.
You should invite Malena.
[door opens]
-I went to say my goodbyes to the house. -[door closes]
It'll be auctioned off soon.
Santos was sworn in as Nazarene
to be able to ask Cristo de la Cuevita for guidance to pay it off.
But then this.
BANK OF THE REPUBLIC
Hello. I'm here to pay a mortgage.
[teller] Mm-hm.
[secretary] I just need you to sign here.
Give me a moment.
I'll be outside.
[inaudible]
Javo?
Señorita Sonia. What brings you here?
-Well, I work here. -Oh.
My grandma told me that your mom's not feeling well.
Nothing serious, I hope.
-She's better now, thanks for asking. -That's great. Great.
Do you need anything? Anything I can help you with?
No I'm good. They're helping already, thanks.
-That's everything, right? -Yeah.
Thank you.
Well, I will pray for your mother.
What was he here for?
[teller] He was paying a mortgage.
[inaudible]
[soft music playing]
[music ends]
I could never repay you for what you've done for me, comadre.
If there's anything you need, please know you can count on me.
You don't have to thank us, Male.
It's been our pleasure.
For Santos,
who was another son to me.
[Ofelia] You should be thanking Taiguer.
And, Javo, 'cause who knows what the hell he did
to make that stingy old man let go of all that money.
It was a small loan, yeah?
-[Ofelia] Hmm. -And I'll pay it off working overtime.
That's not happening, Javier.
Tell your uncle that even if it takes me forever, I will repay every penny.
Hm?
[upbeat dance music playing]
What you doing here?
Passing by, thought I'd stop and say hi.
Since when do you do that?
Well…
Things change, hermana.
You miss that?
What?
Going out with your friends.
Talking.
Dancing.
Honestly, yeah.
You could be there.
Be one of those girls right now.
Ah, but first there'd have to be a responsible father.
There isn't one.
Heidi, you gotta understand what we're trying…
Look, Mike, I keep to myself, okay? I stay out of your life.
And I never judge you.
But I don't have a baby.
How do you know? Like, what if you do and you don't even know?
If you are doing this because mom, like, made you, stop wasting your time, Miguel.
I'm so sick of her bribing and pressuring me.
If I wasn't gonna tell you before, imagine now.
Y'all just mind your own business, yeah?
Don't act like you don't have any secrets.
I wanna know too.
But if you don't want that, I respect your decision.
[dance music continues]
See you back at the house?
[Mike grunts]
[music ends]
What's going on?
-Where's Malena's stuff? -She went back to her house.
What d'you mean, her house? She was evicted, wasn't she?
I don't know.
They were on their way out.
They simply said Malena had paid off the house and that they'll explain later.
-You said "they"? -Hm.
Who's they?
You've lost me.
Javo apparently applied for a loan to pay the mortgage.
And I think everything's sorted now.
-Javo applied? [chuckles] -Mm-hm.
You're kidding, right?
What bank's gonna approve a loan for Javo?
The little rat of your uncle.
[upbeat music playing]
[music fades]
-[Bolillo strains] All done, carnal. -Sweet.
-[Javo grunts] -Guys.
Señora.
Bolillo, Cuerpitaco, thank you so much. Really.
Well, that's what friends are for.
I don't know what you discussed with Javo but…
Leave it, leave it, leave it. I got you.
Thanks a lot, bros, yeah?
I'ma have you over for some gomichelas to say thank you.
Thanks, dude.
-[Malena] Have a good one. -[Cuerpitaco] Thanks.
[they chuckle]
-[Malena exhales] -[Javi] Mm.
[Malena] Mm.
It doesn't feel real.
I mean, just yesterday I thought my place was lost.
And now I don't know who to thank first, Javo.
The Señor de la Cuevita
or Santos who shone down on you from the sky.
-Or you who… -You don't need to thank me, seriously.
Listen, aren't we being a little bit indiscreet?
Ofelia and your mom were watching both of us like…
-Enough, flaca! -I don't know…
Fuck anybody who finds out.
I don't wanna hide anymore. I don't fucking want to.
I'm tired.
-[chuckles] Thanks, Ma. You did good. -Mm.
[Mike chuckles]
[Nora] Mom, what are you doing here? What happened?
Uh, señorita Sonia…
-threw me out. -But… but why?
What happened?
Well, it's just that it seems she's got problems with her finances.
-Where are your things? -Oh, I'll go get them later.
Some other day.
The thing is that…
-I have nowhere to live. -[Nora] Don't say that.
Abuelita, of course you have somewhere to live.
I gotta go somewhere right now, but you get comfortable wherever you like.
We'll talk later. kiss
Don't you even worry, Mamá. Hm? It'll all be alright.
[Alicia, tearful] My son.
My son was here last night with me, you know?
Where did you take him?
[woman] Shut up already! Your son's not here.
You piss the bed again, and I'll beat the shit outta you, filthy old hag.
[man] No mames. Stop being a bitch. You know the poor lady's not well, man.
She's not so bad, you know?
Got something here to get rid of your bad mood.
[reggaeton music playing]
[uneasy music overlaps]
[muffled reggaeton music plays]
[suspenseful music playing]
[Alicia] Ma'am. They've kidnapped my son!
Let me borrow your phone, please.
Señora!
E… Excuse me, uh, my son and I have been kidnapped.
-Do you have a phone? -Yes, of course.
-I must call this number. -What's the number?
Fif… 56-32-0002.
No mames.
[suspenseful music continues]
Fuck me.
[Alicia, distraught] Herminia! Herminia! Answer me, please, honey.
Fercho and I have been kidnapped.
[shot]
[end theme song playing]
[music ends]
["Oro" by Macha Kiddo ft. El Licenciado playing]
♪ Yep ♪
[Macha Kiddo singing in Spanish]
-♪ Insane in the brain ♪ -♪ Insane in the brain ♪
[continues singing in Spanish]
♪ Insane in the brain ♪
[continues singing in Spanish]
-♪ Insane in the brain ♪ -♪ Insane in the brain ♪
[continues singing in Spanish]
♪ Yep ♪
♪ Yep, yep, yep ♪
[continues singing in Spanish]
♪ Insane in the brain Brain, brain, brain ♪
[continues singing in Spanish]
[music ends]