Original subtitles

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

PABLO ESCOBAR, THE LORD OF EVIL

Excuse the delay. It's okay, don't stand up.

You are a journalist and you know what's happening in this country.

Don't worry, Mr. President, I perfectly understand it.

Very important achievement that one in Medellín.

I really thank you for receiving me.

And where are the cameras? Do you want to do the interview here? Outside?

No, Mr. President. I'm sorry, this time I didn't come for an interview.

I have a very important question to ask you,

I'm sorry for not explaining it to you before.

Don't worry. Tell me.

I was contacted by Father Reyes' people.

The guerrilla leader wants to break the silence

and give a public interview.

He has never shown his face in public. What do you think, Mr. President?

What does your father say?

I think he is the one that can give you the best advice.

He was the President of this country.

My father doesn't want me to go.

But I am convinced that you have to do everything you can

to involve those people in a peace negotiation, Mr. President.

And what do your colleagues think?

They have their doubts and say it is a very dangerous mission

and that they don't know what they would face.

A confrontation with army forces maybe.

And what do you think?

The fact that the man wants to talk is already surprising.

He has always been known for being invisible,

and I imagine that what he wants to say is very important.

I perfectly understand that any peace talk

should be directly done with the government,

but I also think that we, as press people,

could explore the field to see what he wants.

I love your idealism, Diana.

Mr. President, I am convinced that journalists' duty

is to contribute to attain peace in this country.

And I think they contacted me, because I am a valid interlocutor

for having participated throughout the negotiation process

with MR20 and Quintin Lame guerrilla groups.

I, as does former president Turbay and your colleagues,

don't agree with your involvment in such an adventure.

But that's just an opinion, not an order. I'm not the one who should do it.

You are the one that finally decides whether to go or not.

You are the journalist, and you know what to do.

Azucena, do you know what Mrs. Diana wants to talk about with us?

- About a job we are going to do. - It must be something important

because she generally doesn't give instructions directly.

That's true, and that's exactly what worries me a bit.

Well, I don't know. But why will the director of Pluto Newscast call us?

- It won't be for a salary increase. - You'll see that what you are thinking

has nothing to do with what they are going to tell you.

- Gentlemen. - Mrs. Diana.

- Have a seat. - Thank you.

What I came to propose

to you is something you can or cannot accept.

I'm talking about interviews with the maximum guerilla leader

of the National Resurrection Army.

That is a very important scoop, but it can also be our contribution

to attain the peace we want so much for this country.

That's why I decided to accept,

and would love that the four of you could come with me.

Count on me, Mrs. Diana, particularly for what you have said.

If we can contribute, we should do it.

- Yes, yes, count on us all. - We are with you, Mrs. Diana.

Yes, madam. Count on me!

Graciously bless this grave

for your servant Gonzalo Gaviria to rest in peace

and wait for the blessed resurrection and the arrival of your Son Jesus Christ

who lives and reigns for ever and ever. - Amen!

- Give him eternal rest, Lord. - And let perpetual light shine upon him.

- Give him eternal rest, Lord. - And let perpetual light shine upon him.

- Give him eternal rest, Lord. - And let perpetual light shine upon him.

Do these criminals think they are going to intimidate us with all those weapons?

With this, Escobar is sending a very clear message to us, Aguirre.

Which one, Colonel?

That our least movement will be followed by a confrontation.

Okay, let's start shooting each other to see who will be the loser.

Don't you see how many people that have nothing to do with this conflict are here?

Just one innocent person dead

and the whole world will come after us, Aguirre.

Let's leave. Escobar isn't going to be that stupid

to attend his cousin's funeral knowing we are here.

- Give him eternal rest, Lord. - And let perpetual light shine upon him.

- Give him eternal rest, Lord. - And let perpetual light shine upon him.

- Give him eternal rest, Lord. - And let perpetual light shine upon him.

Cousin, what are you doing in there?

Calculating the number of tombstones we have to sell,

so you won't have to shoot yourself. These are the months you have left.

Pablo, if things continue like this, you better start getting the pistol ready.

You know what, cousin? Stop talking nonsense.

I'm already working on that.

Why don't you rather help me to see if somebody is coming?

Gonzalo,

do you know the name of Godzilla's boyfriend?

- No, what is it? - Godzalo.

Pablo, throw that stuff away, because it is already affecting your brain.

That's my cousin Pablo!

We got in the business. We made it, brother!

Stop talking nonsense, Pablo. I'm also mentioned in that newspaper!

Yes, but you aren't a member of the Congress of the Republic of Colombia.

The thing is that we are crooks, Pablo.

Yes, what fine crooks we are with you still living in that awful house.

They seized a truck in Ecuador, and guess whose?

At my pace. At yours, about one week.

It is this damn old age that's fucking us up, Pablo!

Don't you worry.

Men are like bears, the uglier they are, the lovelier.

And women like it.

What do women like, Mom? Bold, potbellied and stingy men?

What's with you? My aunt is saying I'm the prettiest.

- Stingy! - What?

- Stingy! - Listen to this asshole.

Take care.

AUGUST 30, 1990

Give me many kisses. Delicious! I'm going to miss you.

- Are you going to miss me? - No.

Yes. Kisses, kisses! You will stay with Granny, okay, honey?

You're going to obey her, will you, my love? Okay, my little one.

I already said goodbye to Maria Carolina, this morning,

but I'm going to call her at school before I leave.

Will you bless me?

Take care, my love.

I entrust my treasures to you, Mother. Take care of yourself. Kiss, kiss!

Bye, my love. Here. Look.

I can't leave without a smile from you.

I love you.

Take care.

Bye. Say bye to Mom.

- I love you. - Bye!

So long.

Are you sure you want to come with us? You still have time to change your mind.

A German interviewing a Colombian guerrilla leader?

- I had to be crazy to change my mind. - That's what I thought about you.

I think you balance the interview, and besides,

having a foreigner is important for the international press.

I'm going to be the first German to get into such a jungle.

- Mrs. Diana, we are ready. - Yes, sir. What will be the route?

I can't tell you the route now, because there is a long way to go.

We'll decide on the way. Accommodate yourselves, please.

- I'm familiar with those eyes. - I'm not going to deny you, Mrs. Diana,

that I feel excited because we are after big news.

That's right. Let's go.

Could you tell your family where were we going?

Sure, to the most suicidal mission ever. God help us, Ronald.

Relax, brother. We're going to be okay.

I hope so, I hope so. All right. Let's go.

If they had told us we were going to hell, we would have come prepared.

Isn't there we are supposed to go?

Sir, where are we going now?

We have to change cars now, Mrs. Turbay.

Change?

Yes, madam. This car is an eggshell, and a rough by-path is waiting for us.

A donkey, a car, whatever, what matters is to get there soon, right?

Yes, madam. There are many people around the personage.

Don't worry, but I advise you to eat well because we have a long way to go.

I must apologize, Pablo.

Perea was effectively the man who gave the information to the elite force people.

Did I or didn't I tell you?

And did he have the nerve to admit it to you just like that?

No, I didn't talk to him. I have my sources in the Armed Forces.

Those are precisely the ones you should hire to take care of me, of my security,

not a betrayer like him. - Than can be done, Pablo.

What I don't finish wondering is why this man went to the other side.

You were right.

I didn't know anything about that, brother.

And I believe you.

I also wanted to express my condolences for the death of your cousin.

It was quite a loss.

Thank you very much.

Be strong, Pablo.

For you to see how honest I am,

Commander Perea ignores I know how things happened,

and I'm not going to tell him anything.

Let's go.

Get in the car.

Let's go.

The declaration of the estate of siege

expressly empowers the judges of the republic

to process criminals who surrender to justice.

If they confess their crimes, they will get the benefits included in the decree,

which are the reduction of the sentence for surrendering and confession,

plus an additional reduction, if they denounce their accomplices.

Additionally, criminals that willingly give in to justice

will get the government warranty that they won't be extradited to the U.S.

Accelerate, son. Move it, move it!

We got them. Freeze, we'll get out after that curve.

Okay. We have them quite close. Let's go.

Move it, move it.

What happened with reinforcements?!

Fire! Fire!

Get down, get down. Okay, asshole!

Damn it!

Good, buddy.

God damn it!

Let's go to the hideout.

That was very good. That's how I need you to be, kid.

What now?

Don't get too close, because that thing can keep falling down.

- Come, Armando. - Sir.

Let's go.

What's going on? What should we do?

Wake up, gentlemen! Follow this man.

C'mon, c'mon. Wake up, gentlemen.

Wake up, Mrs. Diana. We have to keep going.

I expect you like animals. Come, my love. Let's go, let's go.

We have to leave.

- Armando, hurry up with the stuff! - What shall we do?

We'll put them on the beasts.

Boss, I already talked to Poncho. He said the job is going very well.

That was the last time you talked on the radio.

After Gonzalo's death,

I don't want radios, satellite, regular phones or anything of the sort.

How are we going to do then, boss?

We will have to use human mail, what else?

Boss, what do we do with the toady? Shall we flatten him?

No, that guy Freddy Perea hasn't been informed yet.

We have time to wait. Don't worry. First things first.

Pablo, listen, they are talking about surrendering to justice.

Pay attention. I know that's convenient for us.

Let me work.

Pablo, this is a good opportunity for us to surrender,

stay a short time in jail and don't be extradited.

We would get all you have been fighting for during so much time,

but without any more bombs, kidnappings and murders,

I mean without fucking the government.

What's more, we wouldn't even have to wait until the constitution is changed.

Listen what I'm going to tell you, Peluche:

if President Gaviria had issued that decree

before having cowardly and in cold blood killed my cousin Gonzalo,

things would be different.

But after that crime against humanity, forget it!

What a fucking scare! Go and see what they did to the van, Pedro.

We were betrayed, brother!

I saw death quite close. We escaped miraculously!

Very good. That happened because you didn't believe you are a part of this too.

That was it.

But what's with you? I was almost killed, brother.

I could be dead now.

That's because you are always out drinking, eating in restaurants,

as if the "wanted" posters had nothing to do with you.

Stop nagging, man.

You are not talking to your wife, we are talking between men.

And after all that shooting. What about that!

We are not Pablo Escobar who moves in cabs all day throughout the city,

or have 200 mansions to hide in,

but that shows we can defend ourselves.

Did you get experience from that, Julio?

Of course, Fatty. Don't doubt it!

But are you okay?

I am complete, Pedro.

Julio, the old man called and he wants to see us tomorrow in Medellín.

Sure, that was the call that entered,

when I was in the middle of it all with these men.

I really don't know how we're going to get to Medellín

because this is full of checkpoints.

Whatever. You know the old man.

If we don't get there, he will come all the way here

and will even bring the cops with him.

Oh, no! After this fucking scare, I won't move from here.

There is not a chance, man.

I don't know how, but we have to get to the old man's house,

and soon, no matter how.

No matter how.

Comrade, can we camp? We bring two women and we are tired.

- I am fine. - Me too.

Don't worry, we'll rest for a while.

I think we'll be there in ten minutes, relax.

Comrade, are those lights down there a village or is it a town?

It is Medellín.

That can't be Medellín. If it were so, we would have taken the expressway.

Father Reyes' main camp is supposed to be in Santander.

What are we doing here?

Listen, madam. You are mistaken. We are in Santander.

What would be doing in Medellín?

- So what's up, Ramada? - Hi, Pablo.

It's a miracle to see you in here. How have you been?

- All right, all right. - Everything cool?

- Yes, sir. - Okay.

You and your little plants, right?

Come and I will show you this fantasy. Come, smell this little sprout.

Delicious, isn't it? It makes you feel like proving it, Pablo.

Listen, I came to talk about a very serious issue.

Tell me, what is it?

Well, that the give-in to justice policy of President Gaviria

has become quite a problem for us, brother.

And I think we should discuss the issue, right?

But, Ramada, none of us is going to give in.

Well, not you, Arellano and myself. But we don't know about the other.

I repeat that none of us is going to play President Gaviria's game.

Not even the Motoa brothers?

Because it is clear to me

that they are negotiating on their own to solve their problems,

and not like us who ask you before making a decision.

Yes, my dear Ramada, but you have to understand that Julio, Pedro and Germán

have always made their own decisions and almost never have agreed with us.

So, if now they that decree is the solution to their situation,

I think that's their problem not ours. What do we have to do in there?

Yes, I perfectly understand that, Pablo,

but they are discounting many years in jail, if you denounce your partners.

But how could you think they are going to denounce us, Ramada?

And why are you so sure about that, Pablo?

I am sure, because they were my partners for many, many years.

Besides, they are my friends and a part of my family.

I arranged everything to rescue their sister, when she was kidnapped.

And I am going to tell you the most important reason of them all:

nobody besides the Motoa brothers is more aware of what I do with a betrayer,

with an enemy. So, don't worry.

Even knowing that, Pablo, and with all respect,

I think the situation is so serious that we should make a decision as a group,

as the cartel we are,

and I think that either we all will surrender or nobody will, Pablo.

Well, I don't know that.

Little queen, tie up that bicycle please.

Germán, couldn't you have thought about a better operation?

They are going to grab us by the balls, brother!

Do you have a better plan, or what?

They are looking for 3 drug-traffickers, Julio, not 3 cyclists, man.

Do you think you are that skinny to be taken as a cyclist?

Leave me alone, jackass! That's not the core of the issue.

We are training, look. Or doesn't it show?

Oh, no! The queen of the cycling, or what?

- Queen? Stop it, you jerk! - All right, let's go then.

Jerk!

Don't fuck with me!

Watch out, boss! There is a police checkpoint ahead of us.

No way, buddies, we can't evade one more checkpoint!

Listen to me, Pedro. Let's go to the main avenue to see what happens.

Listen, over the past hour and a half, we have evaded three checkpoints,

and this way we're never going to make it. We'll just have to keep going.

Aren't you aware that we are going to get caught, Germán?

What's with you? Checkpoints are for cars not for bicycles.

I don't know. Do what you want then, but I'm not going to run the risk.

- Stop the tantrum, kiddo! - So, what do you want then?!

- Nothing. - To run a risk, if you stay in there.

And put my head into the lion's mouth like an asshole!

I told you. Listen, Pedro, I told you and you didn't pay attention to me.

- Look how we fucked it up. - Relax, man, go on.

Look at them. They are making signs to us.

Don't worry, because if they stop us, the boys are instructed to answer them.

And how shall we defend ourselves? Spitting bullets or what?

Keep going, man. Get close. If we are stopped, they will rescue us.

- Go ahead! - We have a green light.

Stop the green one.

Did the first surrender already happen?

Well, it is too soon to have results. I think we should wait a bit more.

There is not much to wait.

The decision is clear: either they surrender or don't, period.

President, I assure you that a surrendering policy like this one

is much more effective than a pursuit. We'll get results later on.

We will continue chasing them, that's our duty.

Is there any news from the elite force?

As much as I know, the criminals stopped communicating.

There are no clues of anybody so far.

After Gonzalo Gaviria's death, they have to be over cautious.

Well, we are offering the no extradition,

which is what they have been looking for since the beginning.

Not surrendering would be a stupid decision.

They probably haven't understood it very well.

We should explain the decree in detail. Yes, a TV interview, that's what we need!

Further explaining things to them may help.

Tell Diana Turbay we need to talk to her about this.

Mr. President, I understand that Diana Turbay is not in town.

She finally decided to interview Father Reyes.

Oh, God! I was scared to death! I thought our moment had come already!

That's for you to learn to trust your older brother, kiddo!

Who's going to trust you with that big ass you have? It looks tight and all that.

You have to be quite stupid to think this guy is a professional cyclist.

- Isn't it? - What an asshole!

Well, not professional but amateurs with ambitions.

- Another one? - Haven't you looked in the mirror?

Listen to this one.

At least, I didn't use a pair of socks to increase my "bulk", asshole!

Socks? Are you crazy?

- Well-endowed since I was a child. - Endowed with sadness.

- Hello? - Julio Cesar, any news from Diana?

It is still too soon. Don't worry, I know she's all right.

We'll be in touch. So long.

Can you explain to me what we are doing here, man?

Of course. We are going to rest.

We don't want to rest. Take us to the commander, man.

That's not going to be possible. Understand that everything has a process.

That's what I don't understand. What are we doing in Medellín?

This is not Medellín.

Of course we are. Don't think I'm dumb! Father Reyes is in Santander.

That's what you think.

Are you going to tell me he is in Medellín with all the police force surrounding him?

Mrs. Turbay, you must understand one thing:

this interview is important for us,

but our commander can't be moving around just like that.

If it was difficult for us, can you imagine how it would be for him?

Difficult because you wanted. We could have come by road.

Look, the best for you is to have a bath, change your clothes and eat well.

You'll have what you want soon. I assure that.

Are we going to make the interview in this place?

No, they are going to take us to another place

where the commander will meet us.

Well, I don't know what you are thinking,

but, Mrs. Diana, this is starting to smell fishy to me.

- Come, guys. - This is quite a summer!

We'll have a good snack with everything, okay?

Please, sit.

Thank you.

I didn't know the meeting would be with the whole family.

You should know it,

because the family is always together for good or for bad.

Well, that's really true.

Tell us what happened. If there is bad news, spit it right now.

Do you think that's enough?

Be more explicit, Dad, because I still don't understand.

Julio, listen very well.

You and your brothers were lucky enough to have been born in a golden crib.

You had all you wanted,

the best houses, the best education, the best schools, universities, horses,

you name it.

That's the truth, Father.

And we are really grateful to you for everything we have.

Grateful but not satisfied.

That's why you got involved in that dirty business

that does nothing but trafficking with things that kill

and that made you richer than what you already were.

Listen, Dad. We perfectly understand that.

And I don't know if we got involved because of stupidity or whatever,

but it happened already and there is nothing we can do.

What's done is done.

Well, I admit it was also my fault

to have allowed mixing that money of yours with good money,

but it's never too late to repent.

What do you mean, Dad? What do you want to tell us?

Listen, son.

I'm convinced that Pablo Escobar is quite wrong.

He has tried to disintegrate the country

with bombs, murdering, kidnapping,

and you have probably been his accomplices.

We can't erase the past. I have no doubt about it,

but I am convinced that Pablo is going to continue to be wrong,

but you boys don't have to do it.

The government has lent a hand to you with this new decree.

Boys, I think the time has come for you to end all this madness.

Let me tell you, Mr. Falcao,

the plan we were talking about a few days ago is working,

and very well. We already have the first retained person.

Perfect. I think it is very good that you tell me all you are doing.

How wouldn't I pay attention to you, Mr. Falcao, if you are the adviser

in the selective kidnapping of influential and wealthy people in the country?

Let me tell you that the next ones will be Mr. Daniel Bedoya's sisters.

But, Pablo. Why are you going to get even with those two poor ladies

that have nothing to do with your problem with Mr. Bedoya?

What do you mean they have nothing to do, sir?

They have everything to do, because they are the sisters of a betrayer,

a hypocrite liar who manipulated me, that promised

and broke his promise when I returned his son to him.

So they will have to pay to me.

Pablo, understand one thing: you have to think calmly,

be strategic and stop that permanent revenge attitude once and for all.

Yes, what you don't understand, sir,

is that the person with the capacity to harm Mr. Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria

and live to tell about it hasn't born yet. No way!

I may take my time to put up my fights, but I always do it!

All right, relax. As you want. I won't interfere. That's your problem.

Well, who else have you considered to include in this list?

I know you feel a gut aversion for El Espectador newspaper, right?

But I think you should attack El Tiempo.

Is that the Santana brothers' newspaper?

Right.

Which one of them? They are many. Are we going to attack all of them?

No, just one, the youngest son of the Director. Fernán Santana.

Fernán Santana.

That's very good, because I think you love all your children,

but youngest ones move you a bit more.

I agree.

That's all right, but... women. I need women.

I have one and she's probably the most important one. Maruja Pachón.

I perfectly know who that woman is.

She is the sister of Gloria Pachón, Galán's widow.

Besides, she is married to Alberto Villamizar,

and I understand that at any moment you tried to kill him, right?

Yes.

She is strategic, not only because of what I've just told you

but because she's currently working with President Gaviria's government.

I heard she was promoting something about the national cinema.

Something like that.

That she and her husband had been overseas. I don't know exactly where.

Singapore maybe.

Singapore, and he is now a member of the Chamber of Representatives.

- Do you realize I don't forget things? - Yes, I'm realizing it.

Well, if these Villamizar-Pachón couple are directly responsible

for having Mr. Gaviria as the President of Colombia,

they are also going to join our festival.

All this looks very strange, doesn't it? But well, let's be a bit patient,

do the interview and we can go back as soon as possible.

How did they contact you?

A group of emissaries from Father Perez surprisingly got to the magazine office,

identifying themselves as members of the ERM guerrilla group.

I said I couldn't listen to them at that time

and asked them to come back the next day.

But they insisted and two hours later, we met and talked.

The following week, they phoned the newsreel,

and we agreed on a new appointment.

And according to what they told me, they belong to the guerrilla group.

And that's how all this started.

I don't know, but all this looks very strange, Diana.

I agree. Something wrong is happening.

Mrs. Turbay and Azucena, get your things ready, because we are leaving.

What do you mean? Where are we going?

Didn't you bother the whole day about the interview?

So, madam, what game are we playing? What do you want?

- Learn how to respect, sir. - Okay, José. Where are we going?

What's your name, sir?

- José Vidal. - Too distrustful, aren't you?

Get your things too, and I'll wait five minutes for you outside.

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.