[intriguing music playing]
Mike, I'm taking Doña Alicia to the police station.
Have an ambulance ready, please.
Come on, It's gonna be alright.
[energetic music playing]
POLICE
Jefe, I got a lady who's badly hurt. I need an ambulance.
Please, get out.
Wait! The Public Ministry's really close. Let me take her!
Don't worry, man. We're in charge from this point forward.
Hey! Jefe! I heard they injected her with something!
Javier Reyes,
you are under arrest for kidnapping in the first degree.
Come on.
Forget it.
Little birdy told us you killed officer Santos.
[muffled complaints]
You wanna know what we do to cop killers, Mr. Reyes?
-[Javo exclaims] -[officer] Let's go!
[Javo pants]
[whimpers]
[theme song playing]
WE WERE KINGS
[women on video] at those beautiful, oriental eyes.
[Rodri chuckles]
[woman continues indistinct]
[Rodri chuckles]
[women moaning on video]
[Mike] 'Sup, Rodri?
Shamelessly watching porn next to the dead now, huh?
[Rodri] No, never. Just some funny videos on YouTube.
-[chuckles] -What brings you here, my man?
Well,
the fake police officer gunned down in Xalpita
was my uncle.
Oh, I'm really sorry.
What about the Nazarene kid? Wasn't he your family too?
Santos.
He was more like my friend.
So, should I give Ortega the autopsy results
and the forensic ballistics report as well?
What do you mean, "as well"?
You mean that there was an autopsy and ballistics report for Santos?
Of course.
Didn't use to be mandatory, but now it's by law.
Especially because this was about an actual officer.
[tense music playing]
Why did Ortega ask you to give them to him?
Oh, Mike, that's just what I was told.
You should ask him.
[music ends]
[phone ringing distantly]
What you doing here?
I just came from the morgue and was told something very interesting.
How about we talk, Ortega?
Yeah. How about we talk a bit?
-[grunts] -[door closes]
[exhales annoyed]
[indistinct police radio chatter]
You know what this is about, I'm sure.
I know Taiguer was your father.
You knew that all along?
I know much more than you think.
[Mike sighs]
I feel like an asshole, Ortega.
I always treated him like an animal!
I saw the man die! I just saw him on a table at the morgue!
[grunts]
-Why didn't Mom tell me anything, though? -[engine starts]
Was she forced?
-He rape her, Ortega? -Hey, relax, man.
It simply didn't work out.
Love's complicated.
But why wouldn't my mother tell me the truth now that he's passed?
After all, he was my father, eh?
Your mom's five steps ahead of you, cabrón
She came to the station today to make sure your dad didn't end up in a mass grave.
Because he's your father. How about that?
Please, don't shoot. [chuckles]
Officer Reyes to Central. Do you copy?
Hey, hey, hey, hey. Chill out. Leave it.
Ortega, what the hell?
So, this is the esteemed brother of that piece of shit, Javo.
[chuckles] Fucking love today's youth, Ortega.
They think that they're living in some sort of fucking movie or something.
Just like you, when you first started.
You thought you were Miami Vice.
[chuckles]
[Mike panting]
[dramatic music builds, then ends]
[tense music playing]
[Javo panting]
-[officer] Get outta here, Javier. -[Javo whimpers]
You're free, go!
[shuddered breaths]
[muffled sobbing]
[music swells, then ends]
[breathing heavily]
[Mike] He's a fucking kidnapper, Ortega.
This asshole's dangerous.
No different than your brother.
They're all cut from the same fucking cloth, Mike.
You wanna apply the law, you gotta be fair.
If we throw Venegas in the slammer,
then we lock up your brother as well.
They'll each get 30 years.
Only, for Javo, it'll be fucking hell.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kidnapper here will get
the luxury suite and unlimited henchmen services.
I'm positive Venegas is gonna have Javo killed in there.
Really disappointed, Ortega.
Always considered you an example,
but… you're fuckin' corrupt like those other cops.
Yeah, yet nobody called me corrupt
when I looked out for you and your brother.
You call me corrupt… [chuckles]
…and you've lived with that thief Javo
since you were children under the same roof.
You know,
If they're your family, the bad ones aren't bad.
How come?
So now, what?
Do we let them go or bust them?
You gotta decide right now.
[Mike sighs]
My only reason for living was Santos.
Hey, don't say that, Malena!
There's many reasons to wanna live.
"Many reasons."
Only I know how I feel, Heidi. [sniffles]
You're gonna have a child!
There's people who love you.
And Javo!
He murdered Santos, he said so.
Lied to my face.
He loves you, Male.
What happened was a tragedy.
And who's to blame in a tragedy?
No one's to blame.
They were equally responsible, huh?
Saying he killed him by what he said is not taking responsibility.
And Santos wouldn't touch booze, ever.
And he drank at my party 'cause
-Just forgive Javo! -I won't forgive Javo!
Not only did he omit certain things, he lied to my face.
He told me that the killer was at large, and that killer never existed, Heidi.
Javo lied to my face, okay?
How could someone do that and say they love me?
I dare someone to blame this on age,
because my son was the same damn age and was a man of honor!
Santos was not a man of honor. He also made mistakes.
You know what, Heidi? What you're saying is absolute bullshit.
My son was an exemplary man. He was gonna be a Nazarene.
He went to the to pray so we could stay in this house.
Santos was not an exemplary man or perfect or the saint everyone thinks he was.
And my God! He didn't go to the
You know what, Heidi? You better leave.
[Heidi] Hm.
-[baby fusses] -[chair scrapes floor]
Please leave.
Take this out on me.
But not on your grandson.
[soft music playing]
[baby fusses]
Santos is the father of Santitos.
Or d'you think the name was just a tribute?
What do you mean?
But you were like a little sister to him.
It can't be. I…
He wasn't some saint, Malena.
Same as Javo.
He buried the truth the whole time.
Lied about swearing as Nazarene and the
[soft music fades]
[muffled breathing]
[breathing heavily]
[winces]
[panting]
[Mike] We were kings,
that's what we were.
[winces]
[exclaims]
We used to play here as kids.
Made all our wishes right here.
WWK
This wall represents who we are.
Our very identities,
[dog barking distantly]
What do I do with you, Javier?
Been thinking about it for days.
I am so tempted to simply… arrest you.
Just throw your ass in prison.
Alright, if that's what you gotta do,
go ahead, Miguel.
Get rid of me once and for all.
Anyway, Malena told me to go to hell.
You can finally be happy.
No.
You don't know me at all, Javier.
That's not who I am.
Malena's the one who doesn't love you.
[Javo] You know my weak spots,
You know perfectly well that both this wall and Malena break me, Mike.
I'd turn back time if I could.
I know there's nothing to be done now, and that I must…
that I should pay for everything I've done, and so I beg you,
so just please, Mike, turn me into the police, bro!
I just want this mess to be over already.
[Mike chuckles]
[Javo] What? What are you gonna do? Huh?
You gonna apply the escape law like these bastards?
You deserve worse than prison.
[Javo winces]
[tense music swells, then fades]
[Heidi chuckles]
They're super pretty.
Ay, Can't believe how cute these are.
Uh-huh, and they're all hand-knitted by Great Grandma.
-Our spoiled little baby… -Who's that prince?
[tense music playing]
What's happening, Miguel? Why did you cover your brother?
Your Javito…
[Javo winces]
…has something to tell you.
What is this, Mike? Huh?
Your opportunity to explain yourself to the family.
It's this or jail.
[Javo] So it's just me who is standing accused?
[Mike] You are the only thief in this family.
You're the only kidnapper here!
What do you mean a kidnapper?
What do you mean, Miguel?
[Nora breathing heavily]
Explain yourself!
Ma, when Santos died,
I wanted to help Malena pay for her house.
-But I stole the wrong truck. -[Nora scoffs]
They threatened me by saying they'd murder my whole family
if I didn't take Doña Alicia.
-My hands were tied. -[Nora] What?
-How is Doña Alicia? -[Mike] Not good.
She's fighting for her life.
Mamá
Mm-hm.
Yes,
[poignant music playing]
[Nora] You're covering for him as well? Aren't you a cop?
Why bring Javier here, Mike?
[pleading] Ma.
-[Nora] Take him to the fuckin' station! -[Javo]
I know this is no one else's fault but mine, I get it.
I never thought that there could be someone like you in this world, Javo!
I don't even wanna know what happened with Santos!
All that and everything that happened afterwards, everything I hid,
all the stupid things I did, was all for love.
Was because I love Malena.
[poignant music continues]
[sobs quietly]
How convenient to have a brother that won't lock you up, right?
-You no longer have a place here, Javier. -[pleading] Ma.
-[Nora] You don't belong here! -Ma.
-[Nora] Get out. -[Javo]
[Nora] I said, get out!
Yeah. Ma's right. Get out!
[sobbing]
THE TIGER SCRAPYARD
[dog barking distantly]
[sighs deeply]
[chuckles]
I'm sorry if this is uncomfortable, Mom, but…
it might be a good time to explain, no?
[inhales]
Well…
I was very young when I met Taiguer.
Fell madly in love with him instantly.
We started seeing each other in secret for some time, and
I…
[voice breaking] …got pregnant.
I asked him to give up that life of crime and…
also told him
he had to decide between that… or us.
That was no life for a baby,
-or for starting a family. -[poignant music playing]
[sighs deeply]
So there I was, all alone,
expecting a child.
Miguel Ángel had always been in love with me.
He was a fine man.
He knew all about Taiguer and me, and… he didn't care.
We then, uh,
we moved in together, and…
the rest is history.
I should've told you the truth a long time ago, but…
I never had the courage.
I wanted to believe that you'd never find out.
Forgive me,
[Mike chuckles]
I assumed you'd be coming here.
[Javo clears throat]
Let's go.
[inhales deeply]
You know, I've been here so much since I was a kid,
but never without Taiguer.
And spending the night here alone…
just felt so strange.
If you think about it, this is a cemetery.
For cars,
Just ruins.
It's all expired.
I bet Taiguer must've felt such deep loneliness all these years.
[Mike chuckles]
To me, it's clear that this was the life he chose.
That he imposed this loneliness on himself,
of living with car cadavers, as a form of punishment.
You gotta go, Javo.
It's really hard for me to say this, carnal
it's just not safe for anyone if you stay here.
[poignant music playing]
Venegas is untouchable, and he's pissed at you.
To get to you, he could come after us.
No one wants to even mention you,
-And Malena… -I know.
I had already thought about it.
Actually, I'd already made up my mind.
I'm packing up my stuff, and I'm moving north.
Should stop by.
Say goodbye to her.
She went to the Nazarenes.
Malena really needs closure now.
Javo…
[poignant music continues]
…I love you,
You're forever my
And I'll always be here.
[music swells]
[Javo sighs]
[music fades]
["Mi pequeña luna" by Pedro Lopez playing on stereo]
[Heidi] I heard everything you said to Mike.
When you got pregnant and all,
how old were you?
Sixteen.
I was just a kid.
And did you really tell my grandparents
who the baby's father was?
No.
My father never spoke to me again.
He passed away some years later without knowing.
My intention has never been to hurt you.
Everything I've done,
has been so you would not make my same mistakes.
You're gonna hate me
for making you say who the father is, when I didn't tell anyone myself.
I don't hate you,
I think I understand you now more than ever.
And…
I think you can maybe understand me better too.
Hm?
[Javo] Mike said I might find you here.
And I, uh, wanted to say goodbye to you, Malena.
[Malena] I got something to tell you.
I'm pregnant.
Why didn't you say something?
You were busy kidnapping old ladies.
Malena, I told you why that happened already.
Well, I've been thinking about it, and…
beyond the blame we share for Santos's death,
truth is
I don't wanna have a child with anyone who, for whatever reason,
does that kinda stuff.
Will you have it?
Yeah.
This baby's coming, and it's gonna be real happy.
Yes.
With its mother.
You mean as a single mother?
-You're gonna raise it by yourself? -I've already done that.
With Santos, I never needed a man to help, and I don't need help now either.
But this child is mine as well.
Malena, I beg you.
I want things to go back to how they were before.
I wanna fix it. Please,
-With enough love between us we… -You don't understand shit, Javier.
Life took away my son.
It's giving me another one now.
This is my chance to do things right.
[sternly] And nobody will stand in my way.
-You stopped loving me, right? -No.
I'll always love you.
But it hurts too much, though.
Love and happiness must be earned.
And you and I haven't earned anything.
I'm crazy in love with you, Malena.
Can't imagine life without you.
I'd prefer killing myself, Male.
[sobs softly]
And if one day, in the future, you forgive me, then…
I'll be right here for you, for my child…
[breath shudders]
[dog barking distantly]
[soft music playing]
[chuckles softly]
[music fades]
[pensive music playing]
I LOVE YOU LOTS, HEIDI.
[pensive music continues]
[music builds]
[door opens]
-[music fades] -[door closes]
[dog barking distantly]
["Llamarada" but Macha Kiddo playing]
[reggaeton music continues]
BUS STATION
[music ends]
[man over PA] and connections departing.
Final destination: Tijuana.
Passengers, please make your way to the door.
-Call me when you get there. -[man] Yeah, baby. I'll miss you.
[kiss]
Morning, my fellow colleagues, friends, and family
of the Alcaldía Itzapalapa.
We are here today to respectfully acknowledge
that thanks to the heroic efforts of officers Martín Ortega
and Miguel Ángel Reyes,
a kidnapping ring operating within our district was successfully dismantled.
This kidnapping ring was led by a Brian Tejada, aka "Pitbull,"
and Sandro Pérez, aka, "El Chano."
Therefore, our local command awards these officers
with the Medal of Police Merit,
which both have decided to dedicate
to our fallen officer, Raúl Santos Aguirre.
I also have the tremendous pleasure of announcing
the promotion of Officer Reyes to second lieutenant.
[audience applauding]
[Malena] Congratulations.
[Mike chuckles]
-Your new office is really nice. -[Mike chuckles]
Thanks.
I wanted to show you something. Here, please. Grab a seat.
[exhales]
The forensic report.
CAUSE OF DEATH: GUNSHOT WOUND
I could use this to my advantage,
say that Javo is to blame and take him outta the picture, but…
that's not right.
As you see in the report, it was an accident.
Javo's innocent.
[breath shudders]
[Malena breathes deeply]
[Malena] My Santos would never commit suicide.
No.
I didn't say that. [hesitates]
There's moments in life when tragedy just strikes.
You defend him, because he's your brother.
But I defend my son.
No, Malena, I'm not defending anything.
It's in the report.
That trigger was pulled by Santos.
I don't care if Javier didn't pull the trigger.
He's to blame as far as I know, Mike.
He's as guilty as me.
He killed my son with his fucking stubbornness.
I told him to stop this nonsense we began when we were drunk.
I wasn't smart enough to end our affair.
And instead of helping me end things between us,
Javo just kept sinking us deeper each day.
[voice cracking] He told him everything.
And my Santos couldn't stand it.
And I warned him not to do it.
"If you say anything, you would kill him, Javier."
[sniffles]
But he's stubborn. [exhales]
So don't try to convince me of anything, because I won't forgive him, ever.
We keep our mouths shut to avoid hurting people sometimes.
Or because you're a fool.
Or… because you can't find the right words
[Mike sighs]
[exhales]
You can count on me for anything you need, Malena.
[soft music playing]
Taiguer was so loving.
The days that I spent with him were incredible.
So attentive and considerate with us.
He even washed his hands with turpentine to hold Santitos.
[they chuckle]
Yeah, honestly, Taiguer had a huge heart.
Always willing and ready to help others.
But he never bragged about it.
I would've guessed that he only cared bout his Camaro.
[they chuckle]
I'm gonna miss that
[priest clears throat]
Sorry… my uncle.
[solemnly] My father.
[priest] At Nora's request,
I chose some words from the
"The truth, painful as can be
will never leave as many scars in its path
as will secrets
and lies.
In the words of John the Baptist,
'Nothing brings me greater joy than to hear
that my children live in truth.'"
[solemn music playing]
Nora,
[Mike] Thank you, Father.
[music swells]
My dear son…
mi amor
your friends here wanted to pay tribute to you
and dedicate these medals to you.
And I just wanted to say…
I'll always love you.
And this humble, little gift's for you.
The truth is painful,
but in its path leaves less scars than lies.
Say hi to your father,
You're a little beacon of love
that'll fight off lies and all that bad stuff.
I'm sorry, Ma. I should've told you sooner.
I knew that as soon as Santos saw his little face,
everything would be all right.
How's your pregnancy going?
[Malena chuckles]
Honestly, I'm enjoying it more than the first time.
[Mike chuckles]
Life's taught me one thing
and that is that the best father is the one who takes charge.
That baby's gonna need a father.
I would love to be there for you whenever you need anything.
[Malena chuckles]
[theme song playing]
[strains]
[panting softly]
Carnal
hope one day you might be able to forgive me for not being honest on time.
IN LOVING MEMORY FROM HIS MOTHER - HIS ONLY FAMILY
[sternly] I love Malena.
And I swear I will straighten up my life.
But there's things that'll always be the same,
["Cadaver exquisito" by Rosal & Fito Páez playing]
WWK
What will always stay the same is who we are,
We're the
[laughs]
[strains]
[Fito Páez singing in Spanish with a live audience]
IN MEMORY OF LYNN FAINCHTEIN
[Rosal joins Fito Páez singing in Spanish]
[song ends, audience applauds and cheers]
[sound fades]