Original subtitles

This story is inspired by real events.

The people and events shown were created for artistic purposes.

Any similarity to reality is purely coincidental.

Previously.

[in Spanish] I came because Mr. Abraham González wants to meet you.

Leader of the Chihuahua antireelectionist party.

-My name is Francisco Villa. -They call me Lucita.

In the previous chapters.

You recruited 700 revolutionaries in just a few months.

What does the American ambassador have to do with it?

I beg you to let Mr. Venustiano Carranza speak.

We're here for a revolution.

I order you to stop this attack.

[indistinct] Get out of the square!

[gunshots]

[soldier] General Villa, come along.

[Villa sighs]

[Villa] What's going on?

[Villa] How the hell did I get here? I remember it all happened so quickly.

[screams, groans]

It was confusing and very unjust.

[rifles cock]

GENERAL BARRACK II MILITARY ZONE

-[crowd cheers] -[gunshots]

[Villa] It all started a few days after our win in Juárez City.

Madero decided to appoint a minister of the army

none other than "Mr. Perfume": Carranza.

[gunshots]

[Orozco] Mr. Madero?

What are you doing here?

[horse whinnies]

We came to complain in person.

You appointed Carranza minister of the army and navy.

A civilian who didn't even fight in the battles.

Men, you're out of line.

How dare you question the president's decisions?

This is treason against the true revolution.

-[guns cock] -Respect your president.

[Villa] But no, that wasn't why they wanted to execute me.

You're under arrest, Madero.

Put down that gun, Orozco.

-Enough, idiots. -[horses whinny]

You're tepid and useless. [spits]

[Villa] Things calmed down.

And even though Madero offered Orozco several positions, he refused them.

The Revolution's brand new image was right there.

And it was already broken.

PORT CUSTOMS

Veracruz Port, May 11, 1911.

[ship foghorn]

[gulls squawk]

It's a shame, General Huerta.

Soon you'll be convinced that the only way to govern...

is how I did it.

Mr. Porfirio, I assure you that if you return from exile,

my troops will always be at your service.

[Mr. Porfirio] Thank you, General.

[Villa] Victoriano Huerta, right there I was face to face

with my future death.

PANCHO VILLA

PANCHO VILLA CENTAUR OF THE NORTH

[Villa] Dictator Porfirio Díaz fled to Paris.

Supposedly, to avoid more bloodshed.

Francisco Madero, supreme commander of the Revolution,

was elected president in a landslide.

Unfortunately, many of Madero's allies,

like Venustiano Carranza, were from rich families,

and agreed to modernize the country.

But not to lose their lands and privileges.

This angered a lot of people.

But one person, not unlike me, was really angry:

Emiliano Zapata.

An indigenous laborer who rebelled

and started a guerilla war in the South.

The new government responded by sending a former assassin

dressed up as a general: Victoriano Huerta.

[Madero] It's a shame you couldn't quell

the Zapatista uprising, General Huerta.

I need a peaceful Mexico for the changes I propose to succeed.

They're already defeated, Mr. President.

But those sly Indians know how to hide.

You have my word.

Zapata will fall very soon.

The other rebels will have to fall into line, as they should.

Thank you for your loyalty to this new government.

The other generals respect you.

And that's why they're willing to support our cause.

Here you go, General.

Ah, thank you, Mr. Gustavo.

Sure you won't join me to celebrate our alliance?

No, thank you. Go ahead.

But, I must say,

I truly believe in the honor of our armed forces.

And in your word,

your fight and your loyalty.

[Villa] Meanwhile, I preferred to keep my distance

and tend to my own personal revolution.

-[crowd cheers] -[man] Long live the bride and groom!

[crowd] Kiss, kiss!

[crowd cheers]

-[mariachis] -[crowd chatters]

[indistinct]

Dance, man!

[chatter continues]

Mexico City, 8 months later.

THE COMET

-[crowd chatters] -[horse hooves]

[horse whinnies]

I don't get all the hype about this town.

Many palaces.

Large roads.

But plenty of poverty and strange things.

Well, I like it.

Hey, have you heard about Halley's comet?

It's going to pass over us.

Look.

[girl] Would your graces like to hear a recitation to the comet?

The comet says: "Whoa, I will kill your people.

Whoa, I'll wrap you in my tail.

Whoa, I'll take a bite of them and you'll be left alone".

[Luz Corral screams]

-[midwife] Almost. -[Luz Corral moans]

[pants] The comet kills. I'll be left alone.

-[midwife] You sure can moo, girl. -[pants, sighs]

It's coming, it's coming.

[pants, screams]

-[baby cries] -[midwife laughs]

It's a girl.

[baby continues to cry]

[Madero] I called you to ask how Pascual Orozco is doing in the North.

Don Venustiano Carranza's reports are no good.

And Vice President Pino Suarez doesn't trust him either.

Mr. President,

Orozco thinks he owns Chihuahua.

And he complains about you to the rich.

He has a loyal group of soldiers, Los Colorados,

who seem like they're getting ready to fight.

-I think. -[Madero] Pancho.

If Orozco's treason against the Revolution is imminent,

will you be loyal to our government?

Yes, I will.

Even if my horse is my only comrade.

And at some point I will raise the entire state in arms

so they join our cause.

Then I can trust you to acquiesce

and obey the orders of those I send

to lead our government's army?

-I have your word? -Yes, gentlemen.

Mr. President...

I give you my word.

[Villa] And that was how I learned who Madero sent

to shut down the Los Colorados uprising.

I received Mr. President's telegram, and here I am.

Tell us where to aim.

The famous Colonel Pancho Villa.

Though I'll have to call you "General."

What? Me, a general?

[Huerta] President Madero decided to promote you to general.

Honorary General.

[Villa] What's the honorary for?

You're not a career soldier like us.

I order the closing

of the whole border.

So Los Colorados won't have supplies, ammunition

or provisions.

They're camped close by, on the estate of an American asshole who supports them.

[horse whinnies]

I want you and your men to surprise them tomorrow morning.

We will.

But we'll move and attack at night.

So the dust we kick up won't alert them.

I said tomorrow morning.

You're here to follow orders and nothing more.

Got it?

Ah...

And put on a respectable uniform, that's appropriate for a general.

Even if it's honorary, we have rules and regulations here.

Then what? What do we do now?

[soldier] Take the horse.

We have to obey.

I gave my word.

But Huerta and I won't exactly be friends.

Then we go tomorrow morning.

[Villa] Of course, I ordered what was best for the fight:

attack at night.

[crowd yells]

[man] We're being attacked!

[man 2] Run, assholes.

[explosion]

[Villa] Don't let even one asshole get away!

-[yelling continues] -[horse whinnies]

[Villa] Look for Orozco! Look for Orozco!

Shoot 'em all!

Go!

[gunshots]

[Tomás] Hey, don't move. Don't move. Get down.

-[horseman] Oh. -[Tomás] Whoa, get down.

Take the mare. Go, take her.

Hurry.

[in English] Don't shoot. Don't shoot. Please.

[in Spanish] Yeah. Go away, fucking Yankee.

[Villa] Who the fuck ordered this?

General Huerta. And orders are orders.

And does Madero know?

-I don't need it. -All right.

Well, you'll die watching your killers.

You've earned it.

[horse whinnies]

I suppose.

-[sniffs] -[horse whinnies]

[Villa pants]

[Villa groans]

[Villa groans]

[groans]

What are you doing here, girl?

You should be playing with dolls, not watching all this death.

Go to sleep.

[pants, groans]

[groaning]

[sniffs]

Not a serious injury.

General.

I don't see blood.

And I didn't see you in the battle we just won.

Enough with the bullshit.

I'm feverish.

I need to rest

to keep chasing Los Colorados.

You're not going anywhere, you're staying here.

General Huerta's orders. [sniffs]

[pants, groans]

[panting]

[Huerta groans]

General Huerta, Los Colorados have been disbanded.

[soldier] They've arrived.

I came to bring the injured.

I came for ammunition so I can keep pursuing them.

-I think tomorrow... -Silence!

Explain to me what the hell your lowlifes did

at the American's ranch?

The consul just reported

that there was looting, that an officer stole a choice mare.

Was it you?

Removing it was an act of war.

Don't give me that cheap revolutionary bullshit.

Don't act like a big man.

Fucking drunk.

I can out asshole you.

I'm going to report you to President Madero,

for letting Los Colorados get away.

That's insubordination of my military authority.

So it shall be.

But I'm so feverish

and won't stand for any more of this bullshit.

This is the end of the line.

What was all the yelling, General?

Fucking Villa is going to betray us. [pants]

You know the discipline the military reserves for these cases.

Villa's men are resting.

-We can arrest him and take him prisoner. -Don't arrest him!

[soldier] Firing squad! [echo]

-Take your places! -[rifles cock]

Aim! [echo]

[Gustavo] Hold your fire!

In the name of President Madero, I order you to stop.

[Villa] I had never been so scared of dying.

The saddest thing was thinking that my life had been for nothing.

Much to his regret, Huerta accepted my imprisonment.

To take me to trial, supposedly.

I sent a telegram reporting your crimes

and infractions against military honor.

I pardon your life.

All right.

Let's go.

General.

Complaints from foreign oil companies.

Another from the US ambassador.

Telegram from General Huerta.

What do we do with Villa now?

[Carranza] Nothing, Francisco.

Let's wait for the trial.

There should be order.

And priorities.

I'm Octaviano Linares. I manage Lecumberri Prison.

In Basque that means "good and new place".

Mr. Porfirio built it.

Based on a French design.

It's impenetrable.

La Santé, Paris.

Impenetrable?

Like Mr. Porfirio, right?

[metal bars creak]

[bars screech]

[prisoner] You're new here.

You're lucky to be in ward B.

In others, people are sick and have lice.

There's probably even Spanish Influenza.

What's the Spanish influence?

[soldier 2] Influenza.

A really awful type of flu spreading across Europe.

Everyone's afraid it'll come here.

Who's the private one over there?

Zapata's man.

A lieutenant colonel in the Liberation Army of the South.

He was ruthless in Cuautla.

All right.

I'm Fayuca, at your service.

Whatever you need. What's your name?

Pancho Villa.

No way. He does not exist.

They told me you're a Zapatista.

That's why I came over.

I think Zapata and I have a lot in common.

-I'm... -Everyone knows who you are.

Pancho Villa!

The guerilla of the North.

I'm Gildardo Magaña.

-It's an honor. -Nice to meet you.

Why do you have so many books here?

What are they for?

These are some volumes. Some are Mexican history.

Okay, wait a second.

You're telling me that in these books is everything since the beginning?

Aye. [chuckles]

And it says

when Mexico was created?

[laughs] That too.

[Villa] Gildardo Magaña taught me a lot.

From the Spanish Conquest, Cortés against the Aztecs,

the Independence movement,

Morelos fighting the chiefs

and he even explained the Zapatista movement in full.

Thanks for what you brought.

Can you give my letter to your brother?

I don't think these assholes have delivered my other ones.

I haven't received any response.

[Gustavo] Your freedom depends on justice.

Not on my brother.

His enemies would be happy to know I'm locked up here.

Tell him he shouldn't trust Huerta.

Between us, I've already told him.

But my brother is a bit trusting.

And sometimes, stubborn.

[Villa] Isn't anyone who fights for the good of the country a criminal?

Ask away, your honor. It's just Huerta's malice.

And you, lawyer, don't just stand there, say something.

What are you looking at?

You liberated the land where my family was oppressed.

All this is so unjust.

The judge doesn't understand, and your lawyer less so.

Now you see how they treat those of us who supported the revolution.

General.

[Villa] Where'd that come from?

It's payment for having read Don Quijote.

No way.

[gasps] I have news for you.

Félix Díaz, nephew of Mr. Porfirio

was planning a coup with Bernardo Reyes,

an old guard general, but they were discovered.

They were condemned to death,

but Madero commuted the sentence to prison time.

-No way. -Aye.

No firing squad?

And I'm locked up here.

What do you think, Magaña?

Tell me.

How do you get these things?

And where do you get news?

[Fayuca] I got another, Colonel.

I can't do this so often, Octaviano will catch me.

Don't worry, Fayuca, I'll keep an eye out.

Columbians. Fine messengers.

-They fly to Chihuahua? -Are you high?

[pants] The coronel sends messages to Cuautla.

Two hundred kilometers.

So, could they go from Chihuahua to El Paso?

They don't go, they return.

He trains them to return.

He sends the male so it'll return.

He returns for his mate.

Don't worry, General.

Fayuca has told me who trains them in Chihuahua.

All right.

[prisoner on the floor coughs, chokes]

-[prisoner] Help him, doctor. -[doctor] Move over.

-[prisoner 2 laughs] -[prisoner 3] Don't get close.

He's got the Spanish flu.

Psst. Hey, kid, come here.

Come on.

-Hurry up. -[soldier coughs]

[guard] Take him there!

-What's your name? -Marcos Jáuregui.

What does the scribe earn?

[Jáuregui] Only 20 pesos a month.

Look.

I need some files.

To cut these bars.

[Jáuregui] How do I get that to you?

That's what I'm paying you for. You believe in me or not?

[prisoners chattering]

The isolated ward, General.

Generals, have you met?

Bernardo Reyes, Pancho Villa.

Shortly you'll be escorted to your temporary cell, General Reyes.

Excuse me.

Friend, what do they mean by temporary?

They're sending me to Tlatelolco.

I won't be here long, you'll see.

But you betrayed Madero.

Excuse me.

The only traitor here is Madero.

You should already know that.

I've been informed that he was the one who abandoned you here,

in spite of all that you did for him.

Wait, wait, wait, tell me what you know.

[Villa] That sure did hurt, and I think Reyes noticed.

Because he felt comfortable enough telling me things I was better off not knowing.

He spent hours praising me,

telling me I was the best man from a betrayed revolution.

[Reyes] Zapata, for instance, asked for land for the laborers

and Madero is after him.

A lot of generals want what's best for Mexico.

And only that.

If you join us,

it would be a great help to us.

We'd get you out of here soon, I give you my word.

Give me some time to think.

[Villa] But I'm no traitor.

I wrote another letter to Madero,

warning him of the possible revolt.

-Gentlemen. -[Villa] He never responded.

I decided it was time to scratch my own back.

[metal screeches]

[knocks on door]

[door creaks]

All right, Jáuregui.

[pants] If I'm discovered, I'll be shot.

So if you're fighting, I'll join you.

[Villa] Marcos, come here.

-[crickets chirp] -[Jáuregui] Good evening.

Are you leaving now?

-Yes. -It's late, isn't it?

The judge asked me to accompany the doctor who's visiting a sick prisoner.

Strange. Nobody told me.

What does the prisoner have? Why did they send a doctor?

[Villa coughs]

[Villa, muffled] Spanish Flu.

Well then, may God be with you.

[Villa coughs]

As soon as we arrive,

me in El Paso and you in Chihuahua.

Look for this person.

"Sell you best pairs to General Villa.

El Fayuca".

They're pigeons.

I'm taking them to El Paso.

You stay in Chihuahua to message us.

[Villa] While on my long journey to the border,

the demons were unleashed.

On the morning of February 9, 1913,

most of the army revolted.

They released Félix Díaz

and Bernardo Reyes from prison.

He was disappointed he didn't turn me into a treasonous dog.

Then they moved their troops to overtake the National Palace.

[soldier] Run. Run.

[soldier 2] Come on, come on, move.

[soldier shouting]

[telephone rings]

Chapultepec Castle, Presidential Residence.

[telephone rings]

-What's going on? -[Gustavo] Francisco,

leave, come to the National Palace now.

I've been informed that there's a coup led by Bernardo Reyes.

-[gun cocks] -Gustavo. Gustavo?

[gunshot]

[soldier] Be careful, take cover.

Who are you talking to?

-Stop there. -[gunshot]

[door slams]

Over here, Mr. President.

To the National Palace.

Don't move!

I am Coronel Raúl Madero!

The National Palace is territory loyal to my brother, the president!

I see any bullshit and you're dead!

[Villa] Many civilians joined Madero.

On route to the National Palace.

They didn't know it, but a few streets away

the rebels were approaching faster.

Let's go!

[crowd chatters]

[rifles cock]

Colonel Raúl Madero.

You know we outnumber you.

Let us pass to the National Palace.

Resistance is futile.

I order you to drop your guns.

Let's avoid bloodshed.

I give you my word that President Madero will not retaliate.

He is not my president.

He's not any of ours.

The army pledged their loyalty to him.

-[gun cocks] -Drop your guns!

Surrender!

[gunshots]

Fire!

[gunshots]

To the Citadel!

The weapons are there.

-[Raúl groans] -[Gustavo] Brother.

-[soldiers shouting] -[Raúl Madero] Stay calm.

It's only a scratch.

Come on, let's go to the Palace.

Everyone to the Palace!

[shouting continues]

Mr. President, I swear that we will make those responsible

pay with their lives.

So I'm asking you to defend the National Palace

and our sovereignty, General Huerta.

It's my honor, Mr. President.

Thanks, Raúl. Without you, the National Palace would have fallen.

The rebels have taken shelter in the citadel, Mr. President.

We have to attack them. It's the arms factory.

That's a reason not to do it.

They have ammunition, machine guns, cannons.

Enough to defend themselves.

There are fewer loyal soldiers than coupists.

I'll go to Cuernavaca to ask General Felipe Ángeles to support us.

Our best artilleryman.

-I'll go with you. -No. You need a good recovery.

In the meantime, we should arm all the civilians

willing to fight for our cause.

We should leave the defense to the military professionals.

We will face experienced soldiers, Mr. President.

I agree with you, General.

The Cuernavaca garrison will arrive in a day or two to back us up.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

El Paso, Texas.

There.

[knocking on door]

Wait here.

Pancho.

I'm back.

Honey.

How are you?

How's my sweetheart?

[Villa] Then started the long and dark days.

I wanted to see you.

[Huerta] Losing Reyes was a disgrace.

[distant barking]

We weren't able to take the National Palace.

We can't afford another such mistake.

Don't worry, Félix.

Francisco Madero went for reinforcements

and left me in charge of the defense.

-Mmm. -And I have delayed the counterattack.

There's time to get us into nearby buildings.

What've you heard from the Maderos?

Raúl is convalescent and Gustavo is under orders to obey me,

so he doesn't worry me either.

Mmm.

The problem could be...

General Ángeles.

[Madero] It's an honor, General Ángeles.

The honor is mine, Gustavo.

My troops will arrive in two days

and we'll be ready for battle, Mr. President.

The police are ready.

We can go into combat whenever you give your order, Mr. President.

-[indistinct] -[Ángeles] We're ready.

-[Madero] Please. -Thank you.

[pigeon coos]

Abraham González left the cages ready.

As you requested, General.

This seems really hard to me.

-[Villa] Mmm? -Why not a letter? Or a telegram?

What do you mean hard, man? It's easy.

Wait for me.

Come over here.

[pigeons coo]

See those blondes? The dandies with the hats?

They come every day to eat popcorn and drink lemonade.

[rooster crows]

They're spies.

That's why we can't send letters or telegrams.

There is an imminent coup in the capital.

There's going to be quite the uproar in the capital.

I should be there.

[police shouting]

[Villa] The overconfident police were sent by Huerta

to attack the citadel and it was a trap.

[guns cock]

[gunshots]

It was an awful massacre.

Yes, because of your mistaken order!

You gave me cannons with uncalibrated mines.

Generals, better to strategize together instead of blaming one another.

Please. I can't take any more.

[sighs] Gustavo, come eat with me.

When the president awakes, I want to you tell him something for me.

[Hipólito] "Citadel attacked.

Hundreds of civilians dead.

Ambassador Wilson asks President Taft

to have American troops take over Mexican ports".

But the Americans were our allies!

HUNDREDS OF CIVILIANS DIE IN ATTACK ON CITADEL

[gun cocks]

[gunshots]

[soldiers shouting]

[gasps, groans]

[pants]

No! [screams]

[soldiers shouting, laughing]

[metallic bars creak]

[Madero pants]

Get down!

What's going on?

-What are we doing here? -[gunshot]

-Stop there! -[gunshots]

"Madero and Pino Suárez die

in rescue attempt."

Fucking traitors, sons of goddamned bitches!

[pigeons coo]

Put the message on, now!

Quickly.

"Return to Mexico City with my men. Revenge."

Pass me a pigeon.

[pigeon coos]