Original subtitles

HE WHO DOESN'T KNOW HISTORY IS DOOMED TO REPEAT IT

PABLO ESCOBAR, THE LORD OF EVIL

Hi Julio. It’s wonderful having you here.

You look furious. What’s wrong?

What happened? Thank you very much, dear.

The same that will happen to you if you don’t get moving.

We are really screwed.

Why?

What do you mean, Julio? What’s wrong?

There's a witness in the States

who is willing to testify against my brother.

That will be more than enough to extradite him from Spain tomorrow.

Wait, Julio! Wait a moment!

What do you mean a witness?

A witness where? A witness who?

I wish I knew, Pablo!

The lawyers are saying that’s all they need to screw over Pedro.

What do you think about that?

Don’t worry about that. Thanks, dear.

You know lawyers love to scare you and that’s what they are doing.

Nothing is going to happen to Pedro.

An extradition process from Spain to the United States takes a long time,

it's very complex and complicated.

So breathe, calm down, drink your lemonade,

- and we’ll analyze this situation. - What situation?

Don’t you see there is nothing to be analyzed, Pablo?

That witness will fuck us all over.

And when I say all of us, you know what I’m talking about.

This shit is heavy!

MANAGUA, NICARAGUA

Excuse me, guys.

Do me a favor, wait for me! Give me that.

Relax.

Keep up the good work.

What's up, Sir?

There you go.

I hope you're good at accounting, because you have a lot to count.

There it is! Do you like what you see?

Look at that!

Did you see the toy we sent you?

Did you like it?

So pretty and brand new!

I’m so excited!

You know these are precision ones, not semi-automatic.

Though the Colombian people have a positive outlook on the dialogues

between President de la Cruz and the MR20 guerrillas,

the current situation still hasn't allowed any discussion of peace.

Both the army and the guerrillas are continuing to attack each other,

and while certain MR20 commanders are participating in peace negotiations,

others are attacking and being attacked.

It’s the Army’s fault, they don’t want a peaceful solution.

What’s the point in peace talks if the parties are still at war?

First they asked us to kill them, now they're asking us to do nothing.

How can we promote the idea of a country living in harmony,

when the number of deaths keeps increasing?

President de la Cruz insists these are minor setbacks that must be overcome.

I understand the Colombian people's frustration,

but I ask you to accompany the government in this effort,

and to understand that we must overcome these difficulties.

Our objective is still to reinstate peace in this country.

That’s why I'm reaffirming the Colombians,

the MR20 guerrillas and the National Army,

that the cease fire is still in effect.

Orders? Orders from who?

- Lieutenant! - Yes, Colonel?

We have to keep searching for Commander Fabricio Romero.

We know he’s hiding here Cali, but I need to know exactly where.

We’re doing intelligence work Colonel, and two suspects are being watched.

How do we know those two suspects are going to lead us to Romero?

You have one week to give me results. Is that clear?

Yes, Sir!

- Leave. - Excuse me.

- Mr. Guillermo! - Yes?

This just came in. Look at this.

The United States is accusing the Sandinista government

of being allies with Colombian drug traffickers.

That's absurd.

The gringos say they have proof.

And in these photos you can clearly see a Sandinista officer handling drugs.

And look who else is there.

Pablo Escobar Gaviria and his cousin, Gonzalo.

What?

And they've denied it all these years.

We’re changing tomorrow’s front page. We're going with this news.

I want to see the former congressman’s face when he sees that photo.

Escobar brings cocaine to Nicaragua

Thank you.

Good afternoon. How are you?

We're going to Cali.

El Espectador! Buy El Espectador!

El Espectador! Buy El Espectador!

El Espectador! Buy El Espectador!

Thank you.

- Let's go. You know where we're going. - Yes, Boss.

El Espectador! Buy El Espectador!

There you have it.

How many times did we listen to him say at the Congress of Colombia

that he was a businessman and a trader?

How many?

This photo demonstrates that Pablo Escobar is a cocaine trafficker,

as Minister Lara said a million times,

and for which reason he was assassinated.

- What is it, Fabricio? - Pablo!

Will you please explain this shit to me?

What the hell is going on with those people?

Why are you asking me?

I’m an MR20 commander, I have nothing to do with them!

Yes, you do! Who recommended them to me?

Who said they were serious, decent, honest people, who are committed to the business?

And look how they're paying me back.

Pablo, calm down. I understand your reaction,

but let’s try to analyze the situation.

What interest would our comrades have in taking that picture?

They took it, Fabricio; they took the picture and fucked me over!

They fucked you over. They fucked everybody over!

This is the key evidence that the United States needed to extradite me!

Do you understand? And I want you to know this:

If I get into serious trouble because of this, you’re going down with me!

Why don’t you question your men?

How dare you suggest I question my men? They have been working for me for years!

You think I started this yesterday?

Who was there that day? The same people as always!

It was me, my cousin and partner, Gonzalo,

your Sandinista friends, and the pilot!

There you have it; it was the pilot!

What do you mean the pilot? Why the pilot?

Nobody else was there!

Your cousin, the Sandinistas, who are trustworthy, and the pilot!

Hey Pablo!

- Welcome to your country, my friend. - Thank you.

Thanks a lot.

That fucking pilot.

Do you have a satellite phone I can use?

Guys, bring the phone!

I must take advantage of you being here, because I need to talk to you.

What about?

The government is breaking our peace talks.

You heard correctly. They're killing our commanders,

and they say they're going to sign a peace process but continue to attack us.

What do you want me to do?

Do you want me to call the President and personally complain to him?

We’re thinking about prosecuting the President of the Republic,

bringing him before the Supreme Court,

the one that evaluates the extradition treaty

and decides which Colombian citizens stay, and which are sent to the United States.

You're crazy, Fabricio.

The only way you can prosecute President de la Cruz is by force.

That’s exactly what we’re going to do. And we’re going to need your help.

Mr. Galán, what do you think about the picture

published a few days ago in El Espectador,

showing Pablo Escobar and his cousin Gonzalo

loading and unloading a plane with cocaine?

This photograph proves that

what the assassinated New Liberalism member,

Rodrigo Lara Bonilla, kept saying about Pablo Escobar is true.

Nobody doubts that he’s a drug trafficker.

His partners are none other than Nicaragua’s Sandinistas.

We hope that this proof will be enough

for the United States to request that man’s extradition,

as well as that of his partner Pedro Motoa,

who is currently imprisoned in Spain.

We hope he has a similar fate.

OK. There is a million dollars in each briefcase for the operation.

Commander, are you sure about delivering this money?

We already accepted the job.

Besides, they aren’t going to waste the chance to go in and burn certain files,

and we'll also benefit from it, because we need money for the operation.

You’re quite right, Commander, but what about your safety?

Don't worry about that.

OK, in that case I'll say nothing more. Let's go!

OK, Commander.

- Homeland or death! - Homeland or death, Commander!

Let's go.

Let's go.

Workmen to the construction site.

The engineer has been located. Over.

Perfect. Back to work.

What a way to lose your hair!

- Hold this, Jaime. - OK.

Hello.

Excuse me for been late, but I had to take precautions.

What precautions? You’re quite safe here.

I’m sending my cousin.

Check it out.

- That's too much! - What?

Are you planning to go into war with three guns?

- No, of course not. - If you want, I can return them.

That’s not what I’m talking about. I thought we were going to have

a meeting point, a more strategic plan.

This is the meeting point. Don't you like it?

Besides, you’re not going to carry them in your pocket.

The truck is a present from Pablo.

Well, OK then...

Can you do me a favor?

Tell Pablo I'm very grateful.

Gladly.

One more thing, Mr. Guerrilla: you’ll be safe as long as you stay within Antioquia,

because the authorities have already been informed about this job.

Out of that area, it's your responsibility.

So don’t mess up, because I don’t want to lose money.

Got it.

Pablo may approve your activities, but I don’t. Do you understand me?

- Don't worry... - I'm not worried.

Give me the keys.

Jaime, turn that off.

Attention! Breaking news!

After several weeks of intelligence work carried out by the National Army,

the MR20 commander, Fabricio Romero, and several guerrillas accompanying him,

were killed this morning in Cali.

This operation is considered as another sign of the decreed truce being broken

by the government, as they continue to have peace talks with the guerrilla group.

- Do you think we lost that money, Pablo? - I hope not, Gonzalo.

I also hope that guy had already informed his people that I was helping them.

I’ve done some calculations and they need a lot of money to finish that job.

- Are we going to help them with money? - Not for shit!

I won’t give them one more cent!

If they want to siege the Palace of Justice,

they'll do it with the money I gave them.

You're a real guerrilla, Pablo.

You like left-wing movements! Admit it, you're a guerilla!

I can’t imagine what benefit we’re going to get from that attack.

Of course we’re going to benefit from it, Gonzalo.

And yes, I’m sympathetic towards the revolutionary cause.

As I said, the siege of the Palace of Justice is essential for us.

Just think: without the Supreme Court of Justice, no one will be able

to check our current criminal records.

Is that so?

Let’s do it then. I always follow you in your foolish acts.

We're cousins.

We have to do something about this fucking gringo!

Yes, we do.

I already sentenced him to death,

and yet he is still alive.

Those in charge of intelligence activities told me he didn’t return to Colombia,

and I don’t know what to do in that case.

Should we go after him?

Let's do it.

You know what?

Attorneys like you, who defend rats like this, are despicable!

Protection from no one. Especially not from a person like you!

Hello?

Hello, good afternoon.

Colonel, pay close attention to what I’m going to tell you.

This information will be of great interest

and is very important for the country.

The guerrilla group MR20

is planning a militarily siege of the Palace of Justice over the next few days.

What are you saying? Repeat it!

No sir! You understood perfectly what I just said!

Just do what you have to do!

Hello?

Don’t worry, cousin. I know how to deal with these things.

Listen up.

The Palace has four floors and this is what we’re going to do:

I’ll go in with a group through entrance number one,

which is the main entrance.

I’ll enter through this point, while the other group,

the big one, will enter at entrance number two,

which is the basement.

When we all are there,

and the situation is under control,

I’ll give you the order, and we’ll take over the rest of the place.

OK?

- Yes, Commander! - OK! The situation is as follows...

BOGOTA NOVEMBER 6TH, 1985

- MR20! - United forever!

- Homeland or death! - Homeland or death!

Come on! Let’s go! Get moving!

Quickly, let's go!

Good day! How are you?

- Where are you going? - To the cafeteria.

- But it's not the right time. - We won't take long.

We'll be in and out, really quickly.

- Do you have a permit? - Yes, of course!

Quickly! Come on!

Let's go!

Get in there!

Arturo! Cover the stairs!

Entry number one, clear. I repeat, entry number one clear.

Don't move, young lady!

Upstairs!

Give me that.

Everyone in position!

Everybody in position!

To the right!

Everybody in position!

You over there, move!

What’s going on out there?

Run downstairs!

At what time was the Supreme Court of Justice attacked?

Around 13:50pm.

- Was there a lot of shooting? - Yes.

- Were there a lot of them? - Just one truck.

Everyone in position!

Ladies and Gentlemen. I am Norberto!

From MR20!

We’re here to bring the President of the Republic to trial.

Therefore from this moment on,

you all are my hostages.

I want to make something very clear!

Those who try to play the hero,

will end up being mourned by their families!

Get them out of here! Move it!

Get them out of here!

Move! Get out of here!

Get them out! Move!

Bring me the magistrates!

Bring me them!

Move!

Mr. Guillermo!

You can’t imagine this chaos.

Explosions and shootings are being heard all over!

The Army is trying to recover the Palace, but the MR20 people are shooting back!

A group of police officers tried to enter through the roof,

but I think half of them broke their legs!

Mr. Guillermo, the Army assault tanks are coming.

I don’t know what they are going to do. This is a nightmare!

I think this will be solved soon. We hope...

Mr. President, all the ministers are here.

Five minutes have passed since

an Army tank entered into

the Supreme Court of Justice.

The Army and other State security organizations took over the building,

while on the outside of the traditional and historical site

known as the House of 20th of July, or Casa del Florero,

the National Newscast crews are witnessing the action

headed by the Armed forces of the Palace of Justice

and commandos specialized in the anti-guerrilla fight.

- Now, five minutes later... - Gentlemen,

I feel I must remind you how difficult this situation is.

We need a solution and soon.

...the Palace of Justice,

where they spent more than two hours performing military missions,

trying to evacuate the guerrillas who sieged the Palace of Justice.

Those MR20 guys made such a mess.

And it will get worse.

There won't be a happy ending for anyone.

All I want is those extradition papers burned.

That’s all I’m interested in.

The Army has the responsibility and the moral obligation to act conclusively.

If the National Government has been allowed to fight against the MR20,

unilaterally violating the treaties, ceasefires and truces,

this is the perfect time to defend themselves.

They have them all enclosed.

Wait a moment.

There are magistrates and civilians inside the Palace.

They need men to negotiate with.

Gonzalo,

do you think the government will negotiate with them after this public humiliation?

This is an unprecedented event in Colombian history.

Besides, a negotiation won’t be convenient to us.

What we need now is the Army to retake absolute control of the Palace of Justice.

Let’s toast to that.

Because a country at war and without a Supreme Court

couldn’t care less about our extradition.

What is this, Luis Carlos?

Something has to be done before things get worse!

Why are those war tanks entering the building?

I don't know.

I imagine the military want to...

put pressure on them

or demonstrate power.

I don't know.

What matters is that the President reaches a peaceful solution.

I’m going to the Palace.

What are you saying?

- Sorry, but I have to go. - No!

Be careful.

Please cease fire immediately!

Spread the news right away!

This is urgent; it’s a life or death situation!

We are surrounded by the MR20.

On several floors.

The fourth floor.

Doctor Reyes, can you hear me?

We have lost communication with Doctor Reyes Echandía,

but his message to President de la Cruz is clear.

The President of the Supreme Court of Justice

is asking for an immediate cease fire.

God help us!

Mr. President.

We must find a negotiated solution to all of this!

I’m not going to submit myself to a political trial before the Supreme Court.

I understand! I agree with you,

but having a war tank parked at Bolivar Square is absurd!

What is that tank going to do? Launch a rocket towards the Palace?

Where is the Minister of Defense? Why isn't he answering me?

He met with the Generals.

Since when is a General more important than the President?

Find him right away!

What are they doing?

Why are they driving a war tank into the Palace of Justice?

Everyone will be killed!

Mr. Guillermo, the Army is supposed to safeguard National institutions.

What is the objective of sending a war tank inside the Palace of Justice?

No one knows how many hostages have escaped.

I don’t know if any magistrates were among them.

Mr. Galán, a statement please.

Sending a war tank into the Palace of Justice is a serious mistake.

I'm calling for wisdom, caution and good sense,

from both President de la Cruz's government,

and the MR20 Commanders.

Look who showed up!

...of employees, of the population.

Please.

He almost had me convinced. I’d even vote for that snitch.

It’s a shame he’s a liberal.

Smoke is starting to pour out of the basement of Supreme Court of Justice,

which means the indoor fire has spread to most of the area.

This emergency has been attended by the Army,

the Police, DAI units, as well as by special National commandos,

who work with this class of problems, throughout the country...

Get down!

The message you sent to the President was unsuccessful, Mr. Echandía!

Nobody cares about your life!

42 State Council magistrates and Supreme Court Justices are still inside.

War tanks have been used by the Army in this operation...

Let us leave, please!

The Army and the Government are the ones who want to kill you,

not the MR20!

Cease fire, please!

The President didn’t pay attention to you, let alone a soldier!

Machine guns, pistols and rifles are just some of the guerrilla's weapons.

Cross fire upfront, comrades!

They have confronted the armed forces

with rockets, bazookas, machine guns

and other weapons that are yet to be identified.

Inside the Palace of Justice, gunfire has intensified, and the explosion of bombs...

Fellow countrymen,

despite the recent events that this country has experienced,

which can be classified as a tragedy,

the Government will not allow the destabilization of the State powers.

The President has the immense responsibility

of defending the institutions,

and for better or for worse,

I was personally

making the necessary decisions

and giving the relevant orders.

I had full control of the situation.

Therefore, what was done in order to find a solution

within the framework of the law, was my own decision,

the President of the Republic.

That’s typical of those guerrillas.

They messed up the Palace of Justice,

and it was full of people.

You have to admit those guerrillas are valiant.

They resisted like mad,

and practically had the whole country on its knees for a full day.

What matters here is that,

thanks to those MR20 outlaws,

not even a scrap of toilet paper remained; everything was burnt down.

So I think we can keep calm,

as it'll be difficult for the authorities to keep track of the claims against us.

What do you mean at ease?

What about my brother?

- Yeah, Pablo. - Are we going to let him die?

He’s having a hard time with the extradition to the United States.

I know that, Julio.

That was precisely why Gonzalo and I asked you and the others to come.

We’ve already located the snitch who sold us out.

Do you remember that gringo pilot who worked for you and never showed up again?

Harry Bill.

- That's the snitch. - That guy.

That guy went back to the United States

after having taken a picture of Gonzalo and me.

So we thought that the objective is

to locate him on American soil and kill him.

Great joke, Pablo!

- Why are you laughing? - What do you mean?

How are you going to kill him if he's in Gringoland?

- What's wrong with that? - Listen, Pablo!

If we start killing all the gringos in their own countries,

we'll all be extradited and get a life sentence.

We can’t be extradited, Mariachi.

The only way that could be possible is if that witness sold us out.

That’s why we have to kill him.

Gonzalo and I are willing to do it,

and we hope you assume the same attitude and support us.

- You can count on us, Pablo. - Mariachi?

- I'm in. - Herbert?

- Of course. - There's nothing left to say.

- Let's toast. Who is going to do it? - I have it ready for you.

Thank you!

Excuse me for being rude.

...for six months maximum...

That's it.

If you don’t testify,

I’ll accuse you of obstruction of justice.

Along with the drug-trafficking charges,

you won't be leaving jail for at least 25 years.

Is that clear?

That’s a risk I'll have to take.

Either you put me in jail for 25 years,

or you let me walk out after six months.

You choose.

- How are you? Good? - How are you, buddy?

So, what is the job?

This guy you have to kill is an idiot who never uses bodyguards.

His name is...

Harry Bill.

$25,000.

This job has to be done well.

Count on it.

Listen, you can't leave this guy alive. You hear?

He's a snitch that deserves to die!

- Got it? - Yes.

Don’t leave him half-dead. You must be sure you killed him.

Yes?

Keep in contact.

The less time you take doing that job, the better!

I appreciate it!

One moment. Yes, hello?

One moment, kids! Wait!

These crazy girls!

Come on. Yes?

Yes.

Yes, they understood me and I think we’re going to be moved to another place.

MADRID SPAIN

While the Motoas remain in the country, we can’t stay here.

Nancy, I’m glad to hear that,

and you shouldn’t have anything to do with those people.

Tell me, Mr. Guillermo: what happened at the Palace of Justice?

They’re saying here that several court magistrates died.

I knew many of them, they were Rodrigo’s friends.

That hasn’t been revealed yet. It’s too soon, Nancy.

I don’t understand what’s happening to our country.

I can’t believe MR20 guerrillas took the Palace of Justice by force.

How is it possible that Army tanks entered the building?

It's unbelievable.

We still haven’t taken it all in.

I can imagine what they're thinking over there.

This is crazy, Nancy. This country has gone mad.

Eight days have passed since the siege of the Palace of Justice.

What started in downtown Bogota on November 6th of 1985

ended in tragedy the following day.

Over 30 guerrilla commandos ruthlessly attacked the Palace of Justice,

while the National Army, who were following presidential orders,

proceeded to repel the attack.

The results couldn’t have been worse.

The number of casualties is still unknown,

but it has been confirmed that 11 magistrates,

including the President of the Supreme Court,

Mr. Alfonso Reyes Echandía, have died.

Although the siege was considered a tragedy by the National Government,

it was also considered a victory of State institutions over MR20.

The Palace was totally destroyed.

The damages reduced the building to a pile of brick and concrete

on the brink of collapse.

To most Colombians, what happened during those 29 seemingly unending hours

put an end to the desire for peace.

Today, citizens feel the despair, pain and uncertainty

of living in a country at war.

The relatives of the 90 people who died at the Palace

and those who still don’t know what happened to their loved ones,

are experiencing the consequences of the violence

that’s affecting us.

All we are left with is the uncertainty of what’s going to happen.

Not knowing if peace in Colombia is possible,

even after such an inhuman and tragic episode,

such as what happened at the Palace of Justice.

This series is freely adapted from La Parábola de Pablo by Alonso Salazar.

Based on news articles and real events, the historical facts are surrounded

by fictional characters and dialogues that recreate non-documented situations.