Original subtitles

A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES

We had nothing to do with this.

Because, as you know,

we don't like war. Don't forget it.

Besides, all of our business is family business.

WELCOME TO CALI

From the start, my brother and I gave it our all.

And when we least expected it, the company grew.

Because the business is headed from heaven's branch

to the end of the world.

I assume that's why we're respected everywhere.

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION BASED ON THE CHARACTERS OF THE BOOK

EL CARTEL DE LOS SAPOS. THE FACTS APPEARING HEREIN

ARE A PRODUCT OF THE AUTHORS' IMAGINATIONS.

SOME SITUATIONS, BASED ON REAL FACTS,

HAVE BEEN MODIFIED AND ENHANCED FOR AN AUDIOVISUAL FORMAT.

They're willing to give up two people from the gang.

After all, I was only a mid-level rank,

or rather, low.

Who's the leader?

Who's behind the organization?

It's not just one.

They're two very smart, very dangerous men.

José Gabriel Contrados

and Hernando Maestre.

Accused of robbery, blackmail and kidnapping.

This one has a record, he's been locked up twice.

And this one?

He managed to get away the three times they tried to catch him.

Do we know where they are?

According to the records, authorities haven't seen them in a while.

We don't know if they left Cali,

the country, or if they're dead.

MARLÉN'S STORE

Here's the mail.

Let's see...

How did we do today?

Good, good.

What's this?

Oh...

Fuck off!

An official citation for Emanuel.

What else do they want?

What are they looking for?

LEONAR-COUGH SYRUP

Good morning.

Mr. Jimmy Rivera?

Oh, officer...

How are you?

How can I be of service?

-Nice to meet you. -How are you?

Hernando Parra. Police.

We're here for a routine inspection.

Why, officer? Something wrong?

It's routine.

Just cooperate with the boys, yeah?

I'm a decent person.

I'm a reputable person.

I swear to God.

I swear to the Lord of Miracles of Buga.

Any of my clients can vouch for me.

Okay, calm down.

No one doubts your reputation.

I've worked at this store for years!

This is the first time! Listen.

It's the first time the cops have shown up with this nonsense, sir!

Listen, Mr. Jimmy...

What we'd like to know is

how long have you known and worked with Leonardo Villegas.

The colonel didn't get the message,

we're gonna have to hit him where it hurts.

His daughter.

Are you sure that's necessary?

Look, Emanuel...

They came to the house, you got a citation,

they went to the pharmacy. You need more? That motherfucker is smothering us.

-They haven't found anything. -But they could.

We're getting ahead of them.

Go look for this girl, you're gonna scare her.

If the colonel won't get it the easy way,

he'll get it the hard way.

Consider it done.

I'll take care of the girl.

Things were getting complicated for Emanuel.

Who said that leading two lives

and tricking your brother, the king of the game,

would be easy?

Don't go out. It's me. It's me, relax.

-Don't scream. -Let go!

It's me. Emanuel.

Relax, breathe.

Enough! What are you doing here?

I'm just here to tell you, you can't leave the house.

You gotta listen.

What do you mean? Why are you here? How did you get in?

Wait. Come on.

Your dad messed with bad people,

you gotta listen, you can't leave.

Look out the window.

Look out the window.

See that man over there?

That man is waiting for you.

They want to scare the colonel.

Come.

I don't want you to pay for your dad's problems.

You gotta listen, Dayana.

I just want to protect you.

Tell me...

That guy outside... Does he know you?

Let's say, I know him.

So, my dad was right.

You hang out with shady people.

I don't hang out with shady people. I was in college,

I hung out with you.

You know, I hung out with you every day.

You left and I missed you, Dayana.

I miss you every day.

Do you think it was easy for me after all that's happened?

I believed you, Emanuel, everything you said!

You have to keep believing me,

because, I swear, I'd never

put you in danger.

I swear.

I'd never use you, Dayana. I love you.

Tell me something...

Who are you?

I'm no saint, Dayana.

But I'm not the demon your dad says I am either.

I swear.

How did you know that guy would come here?

Because I live where Alonso lives.

I know people that know him.

I know those people want to make your dad pay,

whatever it takes, for everything he's doing.

So, who? Who's behind all of this?

I don't know. Bad people.

People that won't let him screw them over.

People that are defending themselves, and they'll do whatever it takes.

My only sin was growing up among men that made mistakes.

And now, falling in love with a colonel's daughter.

Even if your dad says

I'm here for other reasons,

the only reason I'm here

is you. Because I love you.

Because I like you.

Because if something happened to you,

I'd die.

It drives me crazy.

Go, okay?

Say I'll see you again, please.

Go, Emanuel.

-Dad could arrive at any moment. -I know.

Go, okay?

Go.

Go.

Nothing at all.

I parked by the house for a while

and nothing happened.

I thought this chick went out to study every day?

Yes. But today, she didn't come or go.

It was quiet.

That's strange.

Maybe the colonel saw it coming and got her out of the city?

Or we have a mole working against us.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT

That's my relationship with Alonso Torres.

We're friends.

We've known each other since childhood.

Now, I don't understand

why you're making assumptions, Colonel.

A friend of mine being a criminal

has nothing to do with me.

It doesn't make me an accomplice, or a criminal.

That's the issue, buddy.

I find all your stories hard to believe.

That's the issue.

I can't believe you're just friends.

Plus, I can't believe you and your family

didn't know about this guy's businesses.

And if that's the case, then,

why did you lie about where you lived?

Because you lied about your address.

Yes or no?

Yes, Colonel.

Out of impulse,

I said I lived in that house.

But that's because I didn't want my mom to see your uniform

and start asking you questions

and complimenting you because of your rank, Colonel.

She can be quite chatty,

even annoying, when she gets carried away.

I was embarrassed.

Yes, it was wrong.

But we all say dumb things when we're in love, right?

Young man, I'll ask you to be serious.

Limit yourself to answering my questions

and don't bring up irrelevant matters.

But that's the thing, Colonel.

It's very important

to be clear and be upfront right now.

Zetina, leave us alone.

Yes, Colonel.

Look, young man.

Sorry, Colonel, but the woman I'm in love with

is your daughter, Dayana.

-Young man... -With all due respect,

I think the reason you're so uncomfortable

and upset, and I don't blame you,

is that Dayana is a grown-up.

She is, she's a woman.

And we're in love, Colonel.

Oh! What did they say?

What did they want? How did it go?

It went well, calm down, nothing happened.

It's all part of an investigation.

Which investigation? I don't get it. What do they want?

Mom, they're very intense.

But we've proved we're an honest family.

And we'll continue to be, right?

Who can resist that face, dummy?

Come here.

That's fine, thank you, man.

Leonardo!

Dammit, Leonardo!

What did you drag me into?

After you gave me those damn cough syrups,

cops showed up.

Calm down.

I won't calm down.

I won't calm down.

Tell me what you're up to.

-Did they find anything? -No.

-So, what are you scared of? -What do you mean? It's...

They turned the place upside down.

They asked lots of questions, even how many clients I see a day.

But they were most interested

in my relationship with you, man.

The only thing they'll find in the pharmacy

is how much you owe.

Don't look at me like that.

You owe two years of taxes.

Supplier accounts.

Laboratory bills.

It's a miracle the business is still standing.

Leonardo...

What do you want?

Sell it to me.

Whether you like it or not,

you're on their radar now, and they'll be back.

They'll pressure you to pay your dues.

That's why you're back, huh?

Look, Mr. Jimmy...

You saved me when I was a kid,

why can't I save you now?

Think about it.

CLUB BRISAS

You're back, thought we lost you.

Oh, you're back too?

What do you want?

We need to talk.

No, I have no more advice.

I'll stay here all night, then,

until you and I talk.

Look, Alonso is in jail already.

You don't need me to speak well of him anymore.

Alonso had a life I didn't know about.

Maybe you and your friends did.

Help me, okay?

Who's behind all of this?

I know Alonso wasn't alone.

He was taken from here.

Maybe you heard something

or found something out.

Don't worry, you got here

just in time, come in.

I didn't mean to inconvenience you, Mrs. Marlén.

Sit down.

This all looks very good.

Mr. Jimmy, make yourself at home.

To what do we owe the pleasure?

Business, Mom.

-Oh! -Remember I told you?

That I had met with Mr. Jimmy, the cough syrup thing,

that he'd sell it at the pharmacy.

-Did you try it? -He has to be sick to try it.

Can you believe the boy's invention?

Hmm?

It was a struggle,

but they turned out to be hard workers and good boys.

By the way, what does Emanuel do?

He's a law student.

And Nora is about to finish school.

Did Nora call?

Yes, ma'am. She left her friend's house.

Okay. These kids get lost sometimes.

Stop digging around,

no one here knows anything.

But they do.

Deisy, they do.

Tell me who the Chacos are,

how many of them there are, how often they come.

If any of your friends know them.

No, I'm going to work.

Deisy, help me.

Please.

You really want to know who those people are?

Dangerous people.

People who won't think twice

about getting rid of whoever gets in their way.

Especially when they ask this many questions.

Stop playing detective,

no one here is gonna risk their ass

to tell you anything.

Were you threatened?

Valeria, me, and everyone here knows whose side to be on.

Who's Valeria?

Look, do yourself a favor, go home.

Mind your business and don't come back.

Stop fucking around.

What's up, honey?

Thought we'd lost you.

What's important is that you'll sleep peacefully.

Look, I'll take care of the hard part.

I'll cover the debt,

keep the supplies coming,

and you'll manage it, as always.

It's a good deal.

You can keep doing what you love without any worries.

And without assets.

That pharmacy is the only thing I have, Leonardo.

Sometimes nothing is better

than four walls

that could crash down.

Tell me...

Why are you doing this?

Because I love you.

And I want to save you from drowning.

So, lend me the money.

No.

Yes, if you want to help me,

lend me the money to pay off the debt.

I give you my word,

-I'm good for it. -How will you pay for it?

With the debt you have,

-you barely... -That's my problem.

I'll see if I can do double shifts at the pharmacy.

I'll do whatever I have to.

The business can be the collateral, if you want.

That's it.

If you want to repay me for what I did years ago,

that's the best way to do it.

It won't cover the whole debt,

but it's a good start.

You can pay the most urgent ones, at least,

and work without anyone breathing down your neck.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr. Jimmy.

You taught me to save for a rainy day.

Are these your savings?

I'm glad to lend them to you.

I don't want you to think I came here to ruin your life.

Look...

I offered to buy your business because I wanted to help.

But if lending you the money helps,

it's yours.

I'll never forget this.

I know.

And I'm lending it to you because I'm sure

you know the difference between friendship and business.

I'm completely sure you're good for it.

Trust me, dear.

I'll pay back every cent.

Save that pharmacy for both of us.

This thing I'm showing you

is currently the best option to cure migraines, fever,

and flu symptoms.

It has chamomile extract and expectorant herbs.

It's an antihistamine, it's a decongestant.

-Who made this? -Me.

And how long have you been a pharmacist?

Oof! Not long.

I don't have a degree, but I have the knowledge.

I learned as a kid, from the best pharmacist in the city.

Mr. Rivera taught me everything there is to know.

What the medicine is for,

doses, contraindications.

He knows it all.

He's an eminence.

And with everything he taught me, I'm taking this step now.

He's your mentor, sir?

My dad, practically.

LEONAR-COUGH SYRUP

-Give me everything! -No.

Everything! Give me the bag!

-No, go away! -Let it go!

Let it go!

They're my documents!

What matters is that it works.

You'll notice every patient gets better after taking it.

How many samples?

We can start with these.

There's 13 here.

As you get more orders,

you call me and I'll get you what you need.

Do you really think this cough syrup

performs all the miracles you're promising?

It absolutely does.

In any case, I can't prescribe my patients

a homemade cough syrup.

It's not responsible nor professional.

If you want me and other doctors to prescribe this cough syrup,

you have to find a lab

that will run the necessary tests.

Then they can approve it and distribute it.

A lab...

You can start here.

Ask for Mr. Vicente Rosas.

They call him "the engineer."

It's not as easy as you think.

The cough syrup has to go through a series

of quality control tests.

They're chemical examinations that the lab does

to determine if they're interested in the product or not,

in distributing it at large scale, you see?

That's what it's about.

Yes, I understand. Hmm...

But...

Ballpark,

when do you think you'll have an answer?

Every procedure is different.

It can be one or two days.

Or three months.

Or a year.

But this one...

This one will take, more or less...

whatever it takes.

Okay...

-We'll have to wait. -We'll have to wait, yes.

We'll win that star this year.

I hope so!

But for that to happen... the coach

needs to stop fucking around with that keeper and put...

Goalie Sánchez!

-He's good. -Yeah, and Chacho Villamizar.

Get Poporo Quimbaya in.

And get Rayo in there too, Tatareto.

Tatareto Rayo.

-No one would beat us. -No one.

Have a good day.

That's a good idea.

Chacho Villamizar. I hadn't thought about him.

I'm looking for a job.

I can do whatever you want.

I can lift boxes,

hand out flyers,

clean up the filth...

I will make this business work, whatever it takes.

Oh, dear, don't you get it?

I don't have enough to keep the pharmacy afloat.

Where would I get money to pay your salary?

Let's do something.

Give me a chance,

and if it doesn't work out,

you can get rid of me.

And not pay me.

From now on, you can order your medicine

at any time.

If you run out of cough syrup in the morning,

I'll bring it to you myself, don't worry.

Madrigal Pharmacy at your service.

Four boxes?

Yes. Give me the address, please.

Yes, right away.

Of course.

If you buy a box of 40 pills,

we'll add drops.

Yeah, I won't charge for delivery.

Madrigal Pharmacy at your service.

The pay for three get four deal?

Yes, of course.

I'll send them.

I know it's easier said than done.

But I'll send it your way, yeah?

Write down the number.

I don't know what you're offering

and promising, but...

I gotta give it to you, Leonardo.

It's working, buddy!

And the best part, Mr. Jimmy,

is that we're just getting started.

Before you know it,

the pharmacy will grow.

But you did everything as I said?

It was messed up.

The old man almost shit his pants.

I had to hit him a couple of times,

but I was gentle.

He was so scared

he wouldn't let go of the damn bag.

What? Stop counting, it's all there.

Stop being so meticulous.

No, man.

Money likes to be counted, to be under control.

If I'm not meticulous, I'll end up like Mr. Jimmy.

And?

Did he tell you he can't pay yet?

Poor thing, he must be terrified.

Yeah.

We don't owe a single cent on my home.

Of course, it's in my wife's name.

But that's what this business is for, to offer it as collateral.

The thing is, a business

that hasn't generated revenue in over a year

and is in the red...

Honestly, I doubt our bank,

or any other financial institution, can offer you credit.

I can get you that money.

-Really? -Sure.

That's what we're here for.

What's this?

The weekly installments you gotta pay.

Interests are included.

Oh, come on, but...

This is much higher than profiteering rates.

But you don't need references, recommendations,

nor accounts of any kind.

If you're not interested, go to a bank.

Hey, Dad.

I wanted to ask you

if you know when I can go back to the university.

If I don't go back, I'll lose the semester.

Dayana, you're not going back to that university.

What? Why?

Do you really think

I'll send you to that university

so you can see that guy?

So I can't go back to study

because you have it out for one of my classmates?

No. I don't have it out for anyone, Dayana.

-No? -That man is a criminal.

Dad, you're the first one to say

that proof without reasoning means nothing.

Look, Dayana,

that guy knows that criminal we caught very well.

When I took him home,

he lied about his address.

And he does nothing but ask

about the Chacos' case.

Do you really think it's a coincidence?

Dayana, please.

Use your head!

I've been dealing with these criminals for years.

You have to understand.

That guy got close to you exclusively

to find out about the investigation.

So, I have to thank you

for all the people that know me or come near me.

What should I say? In Emanuel's case, yes.

That's it.

Dayana, you're changing universities.

Now more than ever, I'll make sure you learn

-to get involved with the right people. -What are you gonna do?

Go from house to house interrogating everyone?

Friends, family, to see if they pass your test.

Let's see

if you let me have at least one friend.

Enough, Dayana! I'm your dad.

My job is to take care of you.

Especially now that your mom can't help.

So, if I have to interrogate your friends,

your friends' families, and their friends,

I'm gonna do it, and that's that.

What are you doing here?

Come. Relax, you dad is gone. Come with me.

No, are you looking for trouble?

You want to know where I come from, huh?

Come with me.

Here's where my two siblings and I grew up.

We didn't have much, but we were happy.

My mom had to wash people's clothes to bring home the bacon.

My dad only brought us debt.

A kiss.

Joselín doesn't work in the US either.

He's not a big businessman.

The only thing he did

was spend what little we had on booze and women.

And that's my story. I get it if you don't wanna see me again.

Why would you say that?

Because a street kid is not good enough

-for a colonel's daughter. -Oh, Emanuel.

Drop the nonsense.

If you had told me everything from the start,

none of this would be happening.

Dayana, your dad is out to get me.

He's after me because I know a guy

they sent to jail.

He was a family friend, he grew up in the neighborhood.

Can't you see?

Your dad wants you to be with a boy

from a good, influential family.

Not some guy that's known poverty since childhood.

And I could have told him everything.

But let's not pretend.

He wouldn't have accepted me.

And... your dad, what happened to him?

Where is he?

This is where I last saw him.

When they kicked us out of the pension,

we came to this little house for a bit.

One day, I was playing here with my ball

and he showed up.

I didn't know if he was drunk or angry

'cause we hadn't told him we moved.

I didn't want him to hurt us anymore.

I wanted him to leave.

And I told him so.

I said, "Go away."

You're moving it well.

Are you right or left-footed?

What are you doing here, Dad?

What do you mean? I'm looking for you all.

Are you here to ruin our lives?

You're a big boy, huh?

Say that again.

Go away, Dad.

Leave us alone!

Do you want to do this the hard way?

Yeah?

I'm your dad...

And you'll respect me.

Too bad for that little ball, I liked it.

I had bought it with some money

my brother gave me.

Did you know I wanted to be a soccer player?

Really?

One more secret you didn't know about me.

-What happened with that? -I had to get serious.

Right...

No, really.

Now...

I don't miss a single Pan American match.

But I'm not on the pitch,

so I score goals with the law.

This is my life.

I can't give you an important last name.

I can't offer you luxury.

But I want to make you happy.

Emanuel, I don't care where you come from.

I care about the man you are today.

Do you understand?

I want to meet your family.

I want to meet the ones that have always been by your side,

the ones that never left.

You'll meet them after, okay?

After what?

After your dad

forgets the danger I pose to you.

After my family forgets

the visit he gave us.

MADRIGAL PHARMACY

Two weeks.

That's the timeframe to catch up on the taxes you owe the state.

And if I can't get all the money in time?

Easy.

We'll close down the store.

Come in, please.

What's all of this?

Let's say it's my brother's office.

Office?

It looks like a lab, right?

My brother is in everything.

Now, for example, he's making cough syrup.

Leonar-Cough.

Let's see.

Your brother, the merchant, right?

That's the one.

I see.

Hey, can I ask you a question?

Shoot.

With everything you've seen and what I've told you,

do you still feel the same way about me?

I think you...

You are the same as always.

You are...

still a man that's delicate,

determined,

that knows what he wants, and is blunt.

And, well...

I appreciate you telling me the truth.

It was the right thing to do.

Even if I ran the risk of losing you,

it was the right thing to do.

Well, here I am.

And you know what's the best part?

That I'm not planning on going anywhere...

Yet.

So, no more fear? No more doubt?

Well, let's say...

I'll take a chance on you.

I don't know when my life went belly up

and turned into this damn nightmare.

Why didn't you tell me that the money was stolen?

No, dear. How could I tell you

that I lost the life savings

you lent me to pay off my debt?

The same way you're saying it now.

Well, I just had to try

to solve it on my own first.

But who's gonna lend money

to an old man with nothing to his name?

Who?

One person did.

I feel so ashamed, Leonardo.

You have no idea.

I don't know how to respond

to you, the banks, the state.

In a few words, I'm screwed!

No, don't say that. Drink some water.

Everything has a solution.

I have one more thing left to do,

and that's keeping my word.

There's the business, as collateral.

Take over the pharmacy.

Buy it from me.

If you're still interested in the business, of course.

What do you say?

What can I say?

No, well... I'm still interested.

But I'm more interested in helping you.

And in not letting the business fall into someone else's hands.

I promise...

I'll save the pharmacy.

And you'll still be in charge of it.

With a decent salary.

Thank you, dear.

Don't worry.

Before you know it, we'll have branches all over Cali.

In Cali and the whole country.

And who knows, along the way, you might start a new business

and become my competition.

That sounds very nice,

but for that to happen...

-we need a lot of money. -Nah.

Brains.

What we need is brains.

Relax.

DEL VALLE SPORTING CLUB VS PAN AMERICAN

"Celebrate the goals in my name, Engineer.

Kind regards...

Leonardo."

CALI WEEKS LATER

Monterrey?

I don't know why they changed the name, it already had one.

Well, Mom, because it's ours now.

So, we're gonna remodel it, modernize it,

so people will think it's a new pharmacy.

Do we have enough to do that?

You're already in debt with that purchase,

you're gonna make changes too?

Thank God I was able to get a nice loan. Okay?

What matters is that we publicize it.

We gotta hand out these flyers.

You at the university.

At school.

You at the store.

If we make some noise, we'll sell a lot.

You think you're gonna do well?

Mr. Jimmy didn't do great last time.

Look, Norita...

Jimmy didn't do great because he's stuck in the past.

Oh, the horror.

It's the truth.

Now we have a new manager, modern, creative, fearless, alert.

-Well said. -The point is... I trust you.

-I trust in all of us. -That's it!

This pharmacy is as much yours as it is mine.

And it's the family's first asset.

That's it!

Look, Mommy.

-You can come see the pharmacy. -So silly.

You're all invited to Monterrey Pharmacy's

grand opening.

You'll find everything for your health

at Cali's best prices.

There'll be prizes, raffles

and many gifts for anyone that comes.

Monterrey Pharmacy.

What's that noise?

Don't miss out, gentlemen.

Monterrey Pharmacy, the best service at Cali's best prices.

Monterrey Pharmacy, every illness' nightmare.

What are you laughing at?

I'm not laughing.

Monterrey Pharmacy, where you'll find your great love.

Isn't that your friend?

Emanuel?

Of course not.

Do you have the flu? Monterrey Pharmacy.

Stomach ache? Monterrey Pharmacy.

Monterrey Pharmacy.

We can even cure a broken heart.

Monterrey Pharmacy.

Dad!

You have to calm down.

You're going crazy.

You'll start seeing Emanuel everywhere.

Are you really gonna go publicize the pharmacy?

Oh...

No, it's just...

I mean, you open up the store, I'll be there in no time.

Where are you going?

I have something to do.

Okay.

Mrs. Marlén?

I need information on Alirio.

You have to know where he is.

I...

I know nothing of him, Mrs. Marlén.

Look, dear.

Alirio and I were very close friends,

and it had been a long time since we saw each other.

And that day, when those bandit friends of yours got into our car,

he had come here

to say hello, to see how the family was.

And he's a good man.

And I don't want anything bad to happen to him.

And I also know that, no matter what you've done,

deep down you're a good boy too.

Please, tell me where he is.

I wish I could help you, Mrs. Marlén.

The best advice I can give you...

is to stop looking for him.

Why?

What did they do to him?

Sometimes it's better not to know.

Engineer, how are you?

Very well, Leonardo.

I'm glad. If we're in good health, we can achieve everything else.

Look, I wanted to thank you for the tickets

to see the game.

But it wasn't necessary, really.

Those tickets belonged to a man like you.

A real sports fan.

-They were your tickets, right? -Yes.

I bought them.

I wanted to see us beat Pan American. But I was busy.

Well, I wanted to thank you in person.

No. Don't mention it.

No need to thank me,

I like pampering my friends. I have another invitation, look.

No, I'm sorry, Leonardo. I don't know how to say this,

but you don't need to give me anything, gifts, presents.

-The cough syrup's results... -Will be ready when they're ready.

-That's it. -Like you said.

I'm not pressuring you. This is something else. Look.

My family and I are about to open our pharmacy

and we'd love for you to be there.

Do me that favor.

Join us.

Jimmy Rivera,

the man from the pharmacy that was drowning in debt,

just settled all of it.

-Where did he get that money? -I looked.

There's no loans in his name.

Parra, we need to find out everything about this guy.

Talk to everyone that knows him.

We'll find out who pulled him out of the hole.

MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND CREDIT

BASED ON THE BOOK EL CARTEL DE LOS SAPOS

BY ANDRÉS LÓPEZ

Subtitle translation by: Ana Grasso