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.

Thank you.

Well.

Well. What can I say?

I would like to thank,

first of all, everyone here today.

Today is a very special day for me, for my family,

for my friends, for my neighborhood.

I still remember when I came here as a kid,

to ask Mr. Jimmy here if I could apply for a job at his pharmacy.

He, being such a good and big-hearted person,

gave me a bicycle and allowed me to make deliveries.

Please give him a round of applause.

All thanks to him, I learned to work,

I learned to save and I entered the world of medicine.

A world that I'll continue to research and explore.

Not only will I benefit, but you will as well.

Because here, in front of my family and friends,

I commit myself to giving you the best service

and the best prices in Cali.

Welcome to your trusted pharmacy.

Thank you very much.

Thanks.

Where's my mom?

I'll look for her.

Well, let's continue the party.

Please enjoy the party.

Hey, you missed Leonardo's speech because you're in here.

I heard it from here.

What is it? What's wrong?

Oh, Fabiola.

I don't want any surprises or tragedies, honestly.

What happened?

Something with Mr. Alirio?

Guess what Alonso told me.

-What? -He told me not to contact him anymore.

Why is that?

Because there's no way to find him.

I just hope this is a new start for everyone.

But not just medications.

I also have perfumes, feminine creams, soaps, combs.

You won't need that last one, but no matter.

-Come in. -Excuse me.

Those are the pills, capsules, inserts, powders.

Here are the vitamins, the emulsions.

And here, as you can see,

I have allotted space for our insignia medication.

You're doing very well and you are so confident.

Why wouldn't I feel confident? I know where to look.

That's why I gave my medication to the best chemical engineer in Cali.

What can I say?

-That's true. -It's true.

But an underestimated professional, if you don't mind me saying so.

-What are you saying? -Look.

With your skills and knowledge,

how could you not be earning what you really deserve?

This type of injustice bothers me.

-Where are you getting-- -What's important here

is that I want to help you. And I want you to accept it.

You have a wife and two daughters to support.

You can't turn down an opportunity that could change your life for the better.

Trust me. Are your angels named Virginia and Rosaura?

-Where did you get-- -Listen to me.

From now on,

you're going to give them whatever they want.

Your kids and your wife.

Work with me. Place the labels on my cough syrup.

We're going to do very well.

I guarantee that for every two pesos you earn,

they'll multiply as quickly as a blink of an eye.

My love! Come here, it's ready.

I'll be right there.

MONTERREY PHARMACY

They could say whatever they wanted about Leonardo and Emanuel.

But one thing was certain,

from the start, they were men who moved among the world of drugs.

Friends, former bosses, and now, even engineers

were at their service.

There were only a few people who kept their eyes on them.

Leonardo Villegas is the new owner.

That explains why the pharmacy was able to pay its debt.

The guy must have been in a difficult situation

for him to sell his pharmacy for so cheap.

Parra, can you explain how a guy who dedicated his life

to selling ointments, got the money to work in this business?

Something very strange is going on.

Firstly, among that outlaw's papers,

are the identification documents of that girl, Nora.

Then, it turns out that the girl's younger brother

has been after my daughter the whole time.

And on top of that,

their older brother gets enough money to buy that pharmacy?

Those guys...

Those guys must be involved with the Chacos, Colonel.

Conrado and Maestre, the guys who turned over Alonso Torres,

were definitely some dangerous guys.

But they don't have the methods of the Chacos.

I don't know if that family is part of the Chacos,

but they are definitely hiding something.

And considering their relationship with Alonso Torres,

let's find out what it is.

Hello?

Yes, General.

Yes, I'll be right there.

Military attaché in New York?

The position is available, and you've earned it.

Thank you, General.

No, you don't need to thank me. You deserve it.

Awards for intelligence missions.

Honorable mention for the service to your country.

Throughout your tenure in the institution,

you haven't had any disciplinary sanctions.

You're honest

and always concerned about doing things well.

You're always doing your best.

And you've recently dealt a major blow to organized crime.

I can't think of anyone else who deserves this recognition more.

So, what I'd like to know is when could you start for the position?

Thank you for your kind appreciation, General.

Well...

Obviously, I really appreciate this position you're offering me.

But I just want to ask for a favor before I assume the role.

Yes, of course. Tell me what it is.

Before I go, I need to finish this matter related to the Chacos.

It's not finished yet.

The colonel is hell-bent on keeping his position.

What do you mean? Wasn't he after the promotion?

Now he's won it. But for some reason, he hasn't left.

Would that reason have a name?

The Chacos.

So giving him false information and Alonso was pointless.

We'll have to whack him so he stops messing around.

Nacho, don't take it there.

If we whack a colonel, they'll really want to take us down.

It'll make things bad for us.

So, what are we going to do?

Should we try using his daughter to pressure him?

He's not going to take money.

He doesn't have any enemies in the institution either.

Not in the institution. But outside of it, he does.

If the colonel missed the opportunity to leave honorably,

we'll need to kick him out the back door.

Mr. Jimmy!

-What's up, Leo? How are you? -Why are you still here?

You can go and rest now.

No, I don't want to go home yet.

After this,

-I'll do an inventory-- -No, sir.

I'm sorry, but we respect the schedule here.

Working hours and resting hours.

So that's enough for today.

Are you sure you don't need me?

-Not at all. -Okay.

I was trying to avoid bumping into the crab.

-Who's that? -The crabapple.

-Well, son. -Send my regards to her.

-See you tomorrow. -Okay.

-Walk in the shade. -Yes, sir.

What you need to do is very simple.

Put a few of these pills in the man's drink.

Be careful not to put more than two pills

because that would kill him and then we're screwed.

My God, Nacho.

Are you sure I won't be involved in this?

Absolutely.

You're working with professionals.

What we're going to give to our client

won't leave a trace of anything.

You'll be able to poke around and the only one at fault will be him.

Mind you,

you need to be completely sure that the man will go by himself.

You're the best at this.

Who am I going to invite?

Hello?

Hello! May I speak with Colonel Tirado?

-Yes, speaking. -Good afternoon, Colonel.

I'm the woman who gave you all of the information

to capture Alonso Torres.

I'm calling you again

because I have very important information to give you.

It's about the Chacos.

About the Chacos?

What type of information?

I'd rather give it to you personally.

I'll wait for you in my office.

No, I can't go there. I sold one of those guys out.

If I go there, something might happen to me.

Also, I don't want to just talk.

I have something to show you.

This can be proof of everything I'm going to tell you.

Honestly, I'm risking my life by just making this call.

Miss, why are you doing this?

Because you're not the only enemy of those rats.

Those rats messed with people they shouldn't have messed with.

Well, Colonel,

if you're not interested, then I'll find another officer.

I don't want those criminals to get away with it.

Where should I go?

Are you sure your dad won't come home?

No, he won't.

So, did you like the song, my love?

I loved it.

But you know what I like the best?

What?

That you're here.

I thought you weren't coming.

Something came up.

I said I'd come and here I am.

-I don't drink while on duty. -I don't want you to get drunk.

There are some criminals trying to find me,

so, I need you to act like a client, not a police officer.

Thanks.

What have you got?

Alonso came here a while ago,

and I knew that guy was hiding something.

It seemed like he didn't come here for women.

He'd sit at a table, wait for a while,

some guys would arrive, speak to him and then he'd leave.

One of the guys was seen with my friend who used to work here.

The next thing I know, she's gone.

Did she show up?

They kidnapped her.

Stop overthinking it. Everything will turn out fine.

-Did you pick the right people? -Of course, man.

Is everything in order? Can I relax?

Everything will turn out fine.

To be honest, I never knew what those guys talked about,

but I knew they weren't trustworthy.

I told Tatiana not to get involved with them

because they can't be trusted.

I need you to help me find out what happened to her.

Look, I can interview Alonso.

No, please don't talk to him.

Remember I told you that I was going to show you something?

There are clues in Tatiana's room that can help us find out

what happened to her.

At the same time, you can find something about the gang you're looking for.

Shall we go?

Take me.

Listen, there's nothing I can do.

I always want to see you.

Don't you see the situation with my dad?

Yes, I know. But he's wrong.

But he's still my dad.

And because of that we'll just let him separate us?

Because if we don't do anything, he'll end up achieving it.

I promise you I'm going to do something for him to lower his guard.

But I need more time, okay?

Little by little.

...THANK YOU FOR BEING BY MY SIDE. I LOVE YOU.

What is this?

I really don't think this will help us.

That's from Tatiana's things.

What's happening to me?

You...

You...

Dad! What do you want for breakfast?

THESE PHOTOS ARE ALREADY CIRCULATING THROUGHOUT CALI

At minimum, they were from Heber and Mario's gang from that neighborhood.

And to think of everything they said in the news.

This country is full of corrupt people. Look at the headlines.

It's saturated.

-This is looking serious. -How about that?

Colonel Tirado has gained a lot of enemies.

Even more since he took over the Chacos case.

I'm completely certain that it's a set-up.

They framed him.

If that's the case, we need to prove it.

These people are very careful, but everyone has a weak side.

And we'll find evidence.

They better be conclusive,

then we can clean our name and Colonel Tirado's.

Those images are very damaging.

They made sure to jeopardize him and the entire force.

The country won't stop scrutinizing us.

They will demand answers. So, let's proceed with the investigation.

Get to work, Parra.

POLICE COLONEL CAUGHT IN FLAGRANTE!

They did something to me.

They drugged me.

I was fine.

Until...

that woman...

That woman put something in my drink.

I believe you, Dad.

What I don't understand is how they deceived you.

Someone called saying she had important information about the Chacos.

Information. So...

I needed to catch those people. I need to!

That's the problem with you, Dad.

That criminal gang has become an obsession.

You're no longer careful about who you meet with or where.

Look, with everything that's happening,

I'm just confirming that my suspicions are correct.

It's clear that I'm not...

that I'm not after a gang of thieves.

I'm chasing some very dangerous, very organized people.

People who are capable of doing anything just to get rid of me.

All the more reason to be careful, Dad.

I'm taking care of you, Dayana.

Don't you understand what's going on here?

These people are so dangerous

that they're capable of putting a crook in my house.

Don't you see what's happening?

Are we going to argue about Emanuel again?

Emanuel isn't involved with those guys, Dad.

I'm sure that crook and his entire family have something to do

with what's happening to me.

Well, you know what?

If they think... that by scaring me they'll get rid of me,

they're wrong.

I don't want anything bad to happen to you.

We already lost Mom because of your enemies.

I don't want to lose you too.

Look at this. Now, we see them.

This man looks so immaculate, so honest

but engulfed in a scandal.

That's how it is in this city, Mom. Everyone is a sellout.

I mean, they show up on the news reporting great results,

but they're filling their pockets illegally...

-Let me see. -Imagine that.

-In a brothel with one of those girls. -What?

Quit playing detective.

Nobody here is gonna risk their neck

by telling anything to a little shit like you.

You threatened them.

Look, Valeria and I and everyone know which side we should be on.

Honestly, I don't believe everything they published here.

Who says that girl wasn't bought out just to hurt the colonel.

-Could it be? -Is it possible? No.

You're watching too much TV, Norita.

It's possible too.

Didn't that happen to Alirio? They shut him up by force.

Dear Lord.

Everyone is the same thing here, the criminals and the authorities.

You don't know who works for whom.

What a bunch of corrupt people.

-Good afternoon. -Hello.

Could you please sign this receipt?

No, I'm sorry, but I didn't place any orders,

nor am I waiting for any merchandise.

Oh, sir. I don't know.

Look, the order is in the name of Leonardo Villegas,

and is sent by Dr. Vicente Rosas.

Oh, yes. Let me see.

Let me see.

This packaging is so nice, right?

Leonar-Cough Syrup.

The best cough syrup for colds and congestion.

And what's best? It's manufactured by Crespo Laboratories,

a very well-known business in the market.

This is how I like working.

Like I've always said, you have to think big.

-Have you started the distribution yet? -Of course, yes.

The first batch is on the way to the major pharmacies

and medical offices.

We'll load Cali up with these bottles. It's like holy water.

You just keep making more cough syrup and finding places to distribute them.

As long as it's casual, the rule is "nothing is off-limits."

Emanuel.

-Can I talk to you? -Sure, Dayanita.

See you later.

What happened?

Tell me something.

Are your family or friends involved in the scandal

set-up against my dad?

Love, how can you say that?

I already showed you who we are, didn't I?

Where we came from. I showed you that we're honest.

I don't know.

It all seems very strange to me. I don't know what to do.

I know it's difficult, but don't get involved in a problem

that neither you nor I can solve now.

Yes, it's very difficult, you know?

Just imagine if they were damaging your brother's name,

or his life. What would you do?

-You wouldn't leave him alone, right? -Come here. Let's sit down.

Listen, I know my dad is stubborn, but he isn't corrupt.

And how can you tell me to lay low with everything that's going on, Emanuel?

I can't just sit back with my arms crossed.

Besides, everything that hurts him ends up hurting me twice as much.

I'm sure he wouldn't allow that type of business to operate under his watch.

No, of course not.

But you need to understand that, right now, you can't do anything

until we find out who's behind this.

They ruined my dad's life in two minutes.

How can you tell me not to do anything?

Not everything is lost.

Your dad is an intelligent man, with contacts and lots of experiences.

He'll find a way to overcome this.

Believe me.

I hope so.

What time did the colonel come?

Honestly, I don't know.

Did he order anything to eat or drink?

I didn't pay attention.

Miss, we're going to need you to cooperate, okay?

I'm cooperating with you. I'm telling you everything I know.

-Had you seen him before in the club? -Look, officer.

Everyone minds their own business here.

So, one doesn't keep tabs on other people's clients,

nor who they're with, what time they arrived, nothing.

So, that's why I can't tell you if the colonel came,

what time or when he came here, I don't know.

Let's talk about the drug shop.

Were you aware that it operated regularly here?

No.

No, I haven't seen anyone selling or buying,

or consuming anything.

During parties, do I sometimes see clients relaxed? Yes.

But I don't know anything about drugs.

I don't take any of that.

So I think it's the alcohol that went to their heads and they get crazy.

Are you a friend of Valeria Buendía?

Co-worker.

Co-worker, just like everyone here.

Well, up until now, your co-worker is nowhere to be found.

Any idea what time she left and with whom?

No, this morning I...

No, she wasn't here.

It seems you've forgotten a lot of details.

If it's not too much trouble,

could you please show me the room where, allegedly,

Colonel Tirado woke up?

Okay. As you please.

This way.

Wilson, let's go.

Tranquilizers, tranquilizers, more anxiolytics,

Hey, Major, look at the cache.

It's always good to have one well hidden, right?

Miss, as you can see, the situation is very serious.

So, we expect all of you to cooperate.

Can you give me an address where I can find Valeria?

Her relatives? A close friend, maybe?

No, nobody has a past here.

Oh, wait. That guy, the...

What's his name?

She's with a guy who has a motorcycle.

I don't know what his name is.

She could be with him right now.

But I don't know where to look for them.

-Wilson, let's go. -Yes, Major.

Checkmate. I think since we're done with Colonel Tirado,

we can stop screwing around and focus on the business, right?

Always so confident, Emanuel

How many times have I said not to count your chickens before they hatch?

Until that coward actually leaves, we can't rest.

But that poor man can't even walk to the corner.

Everyone in Cali is criticizing him.

Yes, but we can't count on people's hate,

you know how this country is.

One day they detest you, the next day they elect you as president.

In any event, I don't think anything will happen with the colonel.

We smeared his name so much it'll be very difficult to forget.

Maybe. But we still need to be ready.

Eyes in the back of our heads. No loose ends.

Whoever wanted to ruin you knew exactly what substance

and how much to give you

to make any trace disappear quickly from your blood.

In your laboratory exams, traces of liquor showed up

but there were no hallucinogenic or narcotic substances.

This isn't right, General.

They gave me something, I passed out.

I felt terrible, I began to tremble. The lights went out.

That proves that they put something in my drink.

Yes, I believe you, Colonel.

But your words aren't enough to prove it.

Why not, General?

After a lifetime of dedication to the institution...

I gave up my family time, even my family, to the institution.

Now, I end up being judged

in the same place where the people I pursue all day end up.

If I were corrupt like so many out there, fine.

But me, General?

The only thing I can say is that I'll be responsible

for providing answers to the institution and the media.

I'm asking you to distance yourself from all this.

Don't go back to the brothel, don't talk to anyone.

Any false move will come back to hurt us.

General, if we can't prove that all of this is a set-up,

what will happen?

We're going to try and reveal the truth.

But if we can't, the only option we have is to discharge you from the institution.

DAYS LATER

The sentence reduction,

thanks to your cooperation with the authorities,

is good news.

Better news would be knowing I won't be here, right?

But that's impossible.

But with good behavior, work and study inside prison,

I think we could get you out of here sooner.

But you need to inform your family that you're leaving the city.

What do you mean "leaving"?

It's the judge's decision, as part of the conditions,

that young men like you

should be far from the place where they commit crimes.

Do you know where I'll be transferred to?

Ternera Prison in Cartagena.

No, Counselor.

That's very far away.

What you want doesn't really matter.

Someone had a hand in that decision, I'm sure.

The fact that they want me far away

because I represent a danger to society,

or because they want to distance me from crime is bullshit!

I don't believe that story.

Do you think someone is interfering or manipulating this?

That's for sure, Counselor.

There are people who invent things in order to get whatever they want.

Look.

I haven't been around for you.

Leonardo.

You can't let them transfer me. I've cooperated,

I've done everything they've said.

Yeah, but you know how the law is.

They'll use you and then do whatever they want.

I can't be far from my family, my people.

Help me, please. I know you can.

No, that's the judge's decision and no one can do anything.

I can't help you with this.

Not I, nor anyone else.

-If I had known this-- -It's late for regrets, man.

Do you know what, buddy? I don't wish this upon anyone.

They screwed up my life. I'm screwed, Leo.

These are the consequences of making bad decisions.

And I know what torments you.

I still remember we used to be friends,

so you can say goodbye to Norita.

If she agrees, that is.

And remember, don't say anything.

Because your family is here in Cali and we have to take care of them.

That's good, don't let it go bad.

Hello?

Fabi.

-Fabi, it's... -Alonso?

Yes.

Fabiolita, listen. I'm being transferred

and I can't go without saying goodbye to Norita.

What can I do about it?

Fabiolita, please, at least tell her to talk to me.

Tell her to come see me for the last time.

You're the only one who can convince her.

Wait. What do you mean they'll transfer you? Where? Why?

Fabi, I don't know.

Look, this call is gonna cut off.

Please, Fabiolita, you're the only one who can help me.

For your son, please.

Hello?

Hello?

Vacation?

You're telling me they want me to move away?

The institution decided that, while the investigation is ongoing,

it's better that you keep yourself away from this.

Leaving Cali means that we're conceding to the people who are behind this.

It's accepting and assuming they won.

You, more than anyone,

know that these matters need to be handled with diplomacy.

What happened has hurt the image of the institution.

The image?

Yes, the image.

General, I'm going to ask you a favor.

If they're going to remove me, have them do it definitively.

It's impossible to put up a fight if the highest priority for the institution

isn't the integrity of its agents and officers,

but what's being said outside.

This is a very complex case, Colonel.

You know that the laboratory exams came out clean.

The woman from the club hasn't shown up.

-How do we defend ourselves? -Remove me from the country.

General, if I asked you before to let me stay here

to finish working on all of this,

now I'm asking you to remove me from the country.

I'm not going to stay in Cali watching how those scoundrels

bring the institution to its knees.

Alonso.

I don't have any other option.

I have to go with him, I need to start a new life.

I'm sorry, but you do have options because you own your life.

Moreover, what do you get by escaping Cali?

Peace.

Tranquility. It's that simple.

Look, if you tell your dad...

to sit back for a while, to distance himself from what he's doing,

I'm sure things will calm down.

How can I tell him to sit back?

Think about it. If you were an attorney, and during your graduation

someone tells you, "No, you can't be an attorney

because you can't defend people. You can't work for justice."

I can't ask that of him, Emanuel.

Work is everything to my dad.

If he doesn't work, he'll die.

If he can't do it, it's simple, he's better off leaving.

Do you want to leave?

Then, stay, Dayana.

Stay and let him go, let him do something else.

Let him rest. Why do you have to go?

Because he's my dad.

Because everyone has turned their back on him.

He's everything to me. I...

I can't do that to him.

Look, I...

I didn't want to hurt you.

Even less did I want to use you, as you were told.

Then what did you supposedly want?

What we were going to do.

Go far away from here, Nora.

Far from all of this, from the mistakes that I made.

Did you think that would be so easy?

Really?

When I was with you, everything seemed easy.

I thought, together, we'd achieve whatever we set our minds to.

With lies and deceit?

Look, Alonso, we wouldn't have been able to, ever.

Try to understand, Nora.

Try to understand that when you're tied up to the neck with such dangerous people,

you can't talk.

As soon as you open your mouth, you die.

Who are you so afraid of?

Tell me! Who has you fenced in?

Everyone, Nora. I'm afraid of everyone.

Do you think I wanted to be locked up here?

Far from my family. Far from you.

Tell me names. Please.

Look, I can help you from the outside, but...

But let me help you, okay?

You can't get involved in this.

Look, I'll pay for everything.

Everything that I did.

And not just to pay it back to the justice system,

but to show you...

that I really want to change.

Alonso, understand one thing.

You and I aren't together anymore.

What does that mean?

That you'll never forgive me?

But when this is over, when I get out of here,

can't I contact you again?

Torres!

Time's up. Get up!

No, Nora...

Let's do this.

Look...

Remember the guy who picked you up every day from high school.

The guy who did everything to see you when it was a secret.

Look, if they ask about me,

remember...

the kid who stole your lunch box and was a pain in your ass...

and then ended up loving you with all of his heart.

BASED ON THE BOOK EL CARTEL DE LOS SAPOS

BY ANDRÉS LÓPEZ

Subtitle translation by: Emily Tell