Original subtitles

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

PABLO ESCOBAR, THE LORD OF EVIL

If Escobar's reputation was full of dreadful stories, questioning,

doubts, I couldn't give him my political support.

No, thank you for the interview. And please,

say hello to Don Guillermo.

Thank you.

I came to talk about Juan Manuel's birthday,

but I can see this isn't the right moment.

I'm sorry, Gloria,

but I'm quite worried about this problem with Escobar.

But I don't see the problem.

You did what you had to do.

I know, I know that!

But if what they say about Escobar is true,

we're dealing with dangerous people.

Well, I don't know,

what worries me the most is that you're confronting

dangerous delinquents

because of an election that...

What? Come on, say it, Gloria.

An election that I'm going to lose anyway?

Luis Carlos, both of us perfectly know that political habits

aren't going to change overnight.

You're confronting two parties that in every election

put their political machinery to work.

They buy votes, give out food, share positions.

It's a quite unequal fight.

I know,

but if you don't expect to win, you're lost already.

I must continue my fight, Gloria!

No matter how powerful the machinery is.

Sooner or later, voters will become aware of it.

Well, yes, you're quite right.

As with everything, it's a process, isn't it?

If you don't win this election,

I'm sure you'll get to the next one with a significant advantage.

Okay!

What will we do about Juan Manuel's birthday?

Throw a party, bring mariachis?

Galán sent his best.

He says he'll hold his ground.

That's the least he can do.

You don't back down after having expelled two members from a party.

Tell me,

did you talk to Escobar?

No, Don Guillermo, he doesn't want to see journalists.

He's hiding. That's typical!

What about Ortiz?

The same. What shall we do?

Insist, Niki, insist!

We can't sit and wait

for those characters to make a statement. We can't, Niki!

What then?

We have to delve into Escobar's past.

We have to find someone who confirms

what we all in this country are suspecting.

Do you think that person is going to appear?

According to our correspondent in Medellin,

everybody says he's a drug trafficker, but no one will confirm.

It would be absurd for the newspaper to keep silence just to please drug dealers.

Someone has to say it.

Judges, the police, someone has to know something.

How are we going to prove that Pablo Escobar is a criminal?

We're going to do our best.

If you have to travel to Medellin, you'll go to Medellin,

and the newspaper will support you.

But we'll need proof,

proof that confirms that Pablo Escobar Gaviria

is a criminal who doesn't deserve to become a member of the Congress.

That man is not convenient for us, Pablo. Listen to me.

Why do you have to judge every person?

He is a politician, that's enough to distrust him.

He has criminal friends. He's a criminal.

- What about the Sheriff? - He pays him.

And now he's coming for our money.

Do you know what's wrong with you?

You're narrow minded.

You have no vision, you don't know how things are--

So, any asshole comes and tells us you're going to be the president?

You think that's vision?

- And why couldn't I become president? - 'Cause you can't.

I meet all requirements to be the president.

I was born in Colombia,

I am an active citizen, over 30,

and I have the support I need--

Come down from the clouds!

That man wants to use you. Wait until he starts asking favors.

My friend!

Another aguardiente, please.

We're analyzing our next step

because we're aware that Galán and Lara aren't going to approve

our alliance with Santorini.

What do we care?

Let them close their eyes or cover their ears.

We have to be pragmatic in this case, Pablo.

We have to get Galán out of the way, and I know how.

Get even, Pablo. Get even.

Listen, teacher, do you know how many people live under these conditions?

No, Don Pablo, I don't know the exact number.

All I can tell you

is that we are united, know each other well and collaborate as much as we can.

Tell me,

do state authorities ever come here and give you any type of support?

Are you kidding? Of course not, boss!

Can you imagine what would happen to a politician

in a rubbish dump like this?

No, the truth is that nobody ever comes here,

and the promised outside help will never arrive.

So, we in the neighborhood do our best to help each other

As it should be.

I'm going to help you.

Are you serious, boss?

I may be a person who tolerates poverty but never misery.

You can count on it!

God bless you, boss!

All these people are going to thank you immensely!

I'm sure about that, I know it.

Because we are not just looking

for seats in the Parliament

nor the Presidency of the Republic!

Our ambition is higher, much higher!

We're looking for a new society!

Bravo!

The right to health care,

the right to an adequate nutrition,

the right to education

and the right to housing!

Unless these four main rights

are adequately respected

for each Colombian citizen,

we'll have an unjust backward society!

I say to the guerrilla

that their battle will be fruitless

while they insist in convincing

the society by way of bullets.

If what they want is to defeat traditional politicians,

democracy is the way to attain it.

We are here asking you for your vote

and committing ourselves

to represent you in the national political scenario!

Because the time has come

for certain politicians in power

to stop depleting public funds!

And to return them

to those who contribute and need it.

We've just heard the speech delivered

by Luis Carlos Galán Sarmiento

during his national political tour.

Let's go for a ride.

Look at him, he's quite a character.

He seems drunk.

Look at those skinny legs.

He was an athlete.

Hello! Are you having a good time?

A pretty outfit, man.

Let me introduce you to some regional leaders...

- Some what? - Leaders.

What's up, man? I'm Pablo Emilio. Gonzalo, my partner.

The woman you like is the TV news presenter?

- Regina? - Yes.

No.

No, she's a beautiful woman, with lots of class, very refined and all that,

but I think she's too old.

The one I like is her friend. That one over there, the young brunette.

Either one would be good for me.

And they are looking at both of us, Pablo.

Both of us? You're nuts!

Not at you, at me. I'm the owner of the ranch!

Am I not the owner too?

That's something quite different, man.

Of course, you and I own the ranch, but who paid for all this, you or me?

The ball is rolling.

Hey, does that man own all this?

Yes, and he's running for a parliamentary seat.

He can be a politician and all that, but class?

And he's convinced he's a movie star.

Oh, yeah?

And if my eyes and intuition don't fail me,

I think he's set his eyes on you.

Oh no, honey!

- Thank you very much! You can have him! - Thanks, but he's not my type.

I've been escorted by the most aristocratic men in this country.

This man is nothing but a very rich social climber.

I totally agree with you.

So...

- What's up girls? - Hi.

Come, son.

Go ahead. I'm going to run an errand and will be back.

- I guess I'll have to go there. - Really?

Regina!

Thank you very much!

Miss.

Cheers!

Cheers!

Regina, I wanted you to know that I feel

very honored and pleased to have you

and your friends' company here in my modest ranch.

We are very happy. Thank you very much.

Though your ranch is everything but modest, Pablo, and you know it.

It's like being in an African safari

but a few hours away from Bogotá. It's fantastic!

Well, that was the concept my partner and I wanted to attain.

In fact, we want to invite you to accompany us

to a buggy tour so you'll have the chance to personally see

the beautiful jungle animals

and our private and spectacular bird collection.

Oh, that's fantastic!

And if you need anything, just contact me and let me know

because we're here to serve you exclusively.

Well, I have the impression

that there are certain female guests who need priority attention.

Yes, let's say you're the guest

who deserves priority attention.

Angela is alone, if you want to approach her.

It's the time to do it.

Well, the thing is that you are a much more beautiful woman.

That's true!

Though a young model

is a more available trophy

for a brave man like you.

And what makes you think I'm a brave man, Regina?

Well, to own this wealth at such a young age, you must not only be brave

but daring, right?

That's true.

Well, yes, I like challenges a lot.

Let's say I measure up to anything.

I'm not afraid of challenges.

I don't doubt it,

but this challenge is indeed out of your reach, Pablo.

Good luck.

Look, Regina!

Listen, Pablo, is that how they swim, or what?

I suppose, because they are used to swimming in pools not in rivers.

- Are you sure, Pablo? - Yes.

No, this woman is drowning, Gonzalo.

Wait, Regina!

Keep your head out!

Try to bring her here.

That's it, that's it.

It was just a scare.

Relax, relax.

You weren't drowning.

Do you need help?

Yes, clear that for her to sit.

Do you want a glass of water?

Let's sit her here, come.

Sit down.

All right.

Are you okay?

- I'll get water. - Yes.

It was just a scare!

- Right? - I don't know.

I don't know what happened.

I think you fell in a deep hole.

Come, raise your arms

so your diaphragm will open up.

That's it.

Any better?

That's it, breathe slowly.

You have to relax, be at ease.

I feel fine.

Who is it?

- Good morning. - Good morning, miss.

My name is Niki Polanía, journalist from El Espectador.

I'd like to ask you a couple of questions

about Pablo Escobar.

That's why now, in front of you pressmen, I publicly want

to hold Pablo Escobar and Gonzalo Gaviria

responsible for whatever that may happen to me,

my physical integrity and members of my family.

Listen miss, I said what I knew.

I really have nothing to say now.

In fact, the information was of no use, believe me.

But they told me you handled a case against Pablo Escobar, is that true?

Whether true or not, that information is unimportant, miss.

That man will be a member of the Congress

and will enjoy parliamentary immunity. This information is important.

Could you at least tell me why you were trying him?

That's public domain information. Look it up.

I looked in every court in Medellin, and I didn't find anything against him.

You might be looking in the wrong place.

I'm very sorry, but I'm busy with my children.

Will you excuse me?

You could see the ranch tomorrow from--

Thank you.

Let me know whenever you wish.

ORTIZ AND ESCOBAR FOR CONGRESS

Listen,

I love politics,

but it's a quite stressing and exhausting activity.

But Pablo, I think we're on the right track.

Chili!

I'll explain.

Sir, Javier told me you collect canes.

Therefore, my partner and cousin

brought you this wooden cane

with a greyhound figure carved in it.

It's a trifle, but it meant a lot to the two of us.

What a nice gesture, Pablo!

Where did you get this cane?

Where did you bring it from, India?

Thank you, Gonzalo. Thank you, Pablo.

Another cane for my collection. I appreciate it!

My pleasure.

Very kind of you.

Pablo, this is a very high-level gathering.

Thank you very much.

This is a fantastic party.

The art of politics is to do what you must do.

And what we need to do now

is do politics in this way. This is the life we deserve at this level.

We also have to spend money on rich people

and see how we can help one another.

They already called me, Ortiz.

Some influential families

ask for favors, they make connections.

They asked to put roads through their properties. Land valuation.

What do you think?

We are living in a vampire's nest,

but we have to say yes to everything.

What do you think, Pablo?

I don't know, Javier.

I sincerely think it makes no sense

to make rich people richer.

Besides, we the wealthy are already complete.

We are the only ones.

I have a quite different strategy in mind.

Tell us what you're thinking, Pablo.

To do what's needed.

Give poor people what they need.

I recently visited the Moravia shanty-town dump,

and you can't imagine the conditions those poor people live under.

Are those poor people going to finance your political campaign, Pablo?

Look Javier,

we humble people are very grateful.

And I know that once these people find out

that I was the one who had the power to turn their darkness into light,

those votes will definitely be ours.

Ortiz,

Pablo's ideas seem peculiar but are rather interesting.

Come, my friend.

Take a picture of us for posterity.

- Come, Gonzalo. - No, you take it.

Go ahead.

Excellent! This is a beautiful! Don't you think so?

Mr. Santorini.

Give me a minute, please.

Pablo, don't forget that the purpose of this party is to smile,

greet and promise everybody the impossible.

Thank you very much, Mr. Ortiz.

All right, Pablo.

- Pablo Emilio! - Hey, Crisanto!

What a nice party, special guests, important people!

Important? No, you are the important guest.

You don't know how much I wanted to see and talk to you.

Tell me.

Crisanto,

I urgently want to get even

with a couple of politicians who played a dirty trick and cheated me,

and I think you're the guy that can help me.

I want you and me to meet in private and talk about it, okay?

- Of course. - Yes?

Let me guess, Lara and Galán?

Why do you behave this way in front of my guests?

What do you mean? It's wrong if I talk and wrong if I don't? Damn!

It isn't that. I mean to be kind,

to show social abilities, as Santorini says.

To know how to communicate with people.

What was I supposed to say to that stupid Santorini?

Forget it!

That I brought him a cane from India when I didn't?

You simply say yes and that it was a gesture and take the picture with us.

Gonzalo, thanks again. Very kind of you.

What a snitch this guy is.

Come Pablo!

Did you read it?

"Senator Alonso Santorini in political campaign

with the member of the Chamber of Representatives Javier Ortiz

and his deputy Pablo Escobar Gaviria during a celebration in Napoles Ranch."

They don't look bored, do they?

Rodrigo, it's evident that those two will go to the Congress with Santorini.

They invested so much money in the campaign that they will win.

We have to prevent it no matter how.

And to do it we have to gather evidence to show that man is a drug trafficker.

And we must do it now,

because once he makes it to the Congress and gets parliamentary immunity,

that will be end.

Pablo, I asked you to come quickly

because they are taking our houses away. We have to move.

But why are they going to do that, mom? Why?

They say they are illegal, that we have no license, that--

License, mother? Why should I need it to build working-class housing

in a property I own? That's private property, that's my land!

I know, they have no right to do that.

But they say there is no license, no authorization, that it is illegal,

that they will cancel it or seize the houses.

And you know what people are saying? That this is orchestrated from Bogota.

That they don't want you to be getting support from the people you're helping.

That's what they're saying. That's politics.

I told you so, Pablo.

Okay, friends,

get in the trucks. Don't worry. Bring what you're wearing right now.

Once we get there, we'll take care of anything you need.

How could I be sure they're going to do that?

Relax, get in the truck and ask your people to do it.

Yes, yes. Move! Collaborate!

Yes, let's do it!

Slowly, take it easy.

- Boss. - What's up, teacher?

Very good, thank you very much!

My pleasure. I promised I wouldn't forget about you. Madam!

I am proud and happy

to give you today

a decent roof to protect you from rain,

cold and scorching sun.

A decent roof

for you and your family to have a home.

We're talking about 60 houses to start with.

The ideal is to reach 1,000 houses

for you to experience and share the warmth of a home.

I remind you that this project has been possible

thanks to "Medellin without Shanty-Towns,"

an organization founded by me

to meet your housing needs.

And if the hypocrite,

hateful and cowardly oligarchy of this country

tries to get you out of here,

rise against it, fight and don't budge.

Thank you very much!

Okay.

Listen,

each family will receive a chip with the number of the assigned house.

You can use that chip to ask for items you need to finish the houses,

for example, doors, window-frames, toilets, etc.

Organize yourselves please and stand in line.

One more thing.

On more thing.

You all know that Mr. Pablo Escobar is running for Congress.

He's going to be responsible for each one of you. We have to support him, vote.

We have to get ID documents and vote for Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria!

Galán!

23,000 votes on tables 57-58-63-64-65...

I think that at this point your rating will rise substantially.

We have to be cautious.

Oh, they are waiting for you! Here's your juice, darling!

Darling, pay attention! Drink the juice.

Thank you.

Drink your juice. Are you worried? I'm quite nervous.

- And how are you, sir? - Very well, thank you.

Shall I bring ice for your scotch?

No, thank you.

Really? How exciting, love!

Pablo, a news bulletin.

Come on!

Okay, family, let's watch the news.

Come on, a bulletin!

Partial results for the presidential elections are as follows:

Silvio de la Cruz, Conservative Party:

2,200,300 votes.

Alfonso López, Liberal Party:

1,604,000 votes.

And Luis Carlos Galán, New Liberalism movement:

780,000 votes.

Almost 800,000 votes! Almost 800,000 votes!

Now we are back in this election night

in our date with democracy

with the preliminary results for Congress.

We have confirmed for senators,

Rodrigo Lara Bonilla of the New Liberalism Movement,

And Alonso Santorini of the Liberal Alternative Movement.

And according to this last bulletin of the registry,

the representative of the Liberal Alternative Movement

for the Antioquia is also confirmed.

Javier Ortiz.

You made it!

You made it!

What's up? What's up?

Allow me to congratulate you!

Thank you very much!

What do you think?

Forget that. It's over.

Fortunately Pablo is no fool.

If he decided to become a member of Parliament, let's wish him the best.

It means we'll do better.

This is a special broadcast...

- What are they saying? - That the Democratic Front--

Bulletin! Bulletin!

I'm coming, I'm coming!

On the road to the Presidency of the Republic.

Attention please! There is a new bulletin from the registry

with the latest results from the ballot

Don Guillermo!

- You have to see this! - How many votes did Cruz get?

That's not the news.

Galán got almost 800,000 votes.

800,000 votes?

After such a short campaign?

Without machinery?

Good God!

Yes, he did.

The bad news is that Javier Ortiz won.

Therefore Pablo Escobar will make it to the Congress.

Tell the editor that he'll get tomorrow's leading article

- in half hour. Go, go! - Yes, Don Guillermo.

We can see, we can feel! Galán's the president we need!

Panther, lion, tiger! Galán is the greatest!

Galán!

For justice!

For peace!

For democracy!

For liberty!

Not a single step backwards. Always ahead!

Galán, Galán, Galán, Galán!

And what must be, will be!

We can see, we can feel! Galán's the president we need!

The surprise of this election came from Luis Carlos Galán

with an unexpectedly high number of votes,

which although not enough to get him the presidency,

has made him a new political force with high possibilities

of winning the next elections.

Come here! Yes, sir!

Yes, sir!

Who's winning?

Let's go to bed, you have to rest.

It's been a long day, and daddy is tired.

Come on!

I'm fine.

Are you? But I'm exhausted. I'm going to get tea, do you want some?

No. Come on!

Let's go to sleep.

What happened?

Why are we celebrating if you lost the election?

Good point.

Let me explain it to you.

Do you see this number?

788,000 votes.

Those are a lot of votes, you get it? Many, many votes!

Listen,

this is the first time an independent political party

has gotten so many votes without machineries.

It's as if

an athlete from an unknown country who goes to the Olympics for the first time

gets a bronze medal!

I don't get it, if you ranked third, you didn't win.

What do you mean I didn't win?

Of course I won.

Actually, we won!

We never thought we were going to get so many votes, you see?

That means that all those months of work were worthwhile.

That's what it means!

It means your dad isn't going to be president now,

but you can keep calling me Senator.

- I want to hear it! - Senator.

- Again. - Senator!

- Senator what? - Senator Galán.

Who are the Conservatives?

Because they said on TV that they won because of you.

Wait.

Well,

I'm going to try to explain it to you.

That is a distraction sophism. That's exactly what it is, a sophism.

I didn't take votes from the Liberal Party.

What I did was reduce the difference

by which the Conservatives won over the Liberals,

and that's quite different. Understand?

No more politics for today. Let's rest now.

I know the phone will start ringing at 5:00 am.

A kiss.

Can I say at school that we won?

Of course!

Not only that we won,

but that it was a historical event.

Hurray to Pablo Escobar Gaviria!

- I really thank you. - You deserve it.

Congratulations, brother!

- Thank you. - You deserve it.

Let's have a drink, dad.

National Congress Representative!

Pablo!

He is going to knock the house down, man!

- Who is it, honey? Who is it? - I'll be back.

Herbert, that's enough!

Stop him! The boy is going to wake up! It's hard for him to sleep.

How are you, Paty? Are you happy, are you proud?

How does it feel to be the wife of a member of the Congress of Colombia?

Well, I feel rather conceited.

Congratulations, honey!

May the Holy Virgin be with you in this new phase

beginning in our lives.

Do you know what they have just informed us, Paty?

That we are officially invited

to attend Spain's presidential inauguration.

No!

Can you imagine it?

Oh, Pablo!

That has to be a very elegant event! What are we going to do?

We have to find a fashion adviser to tell us what to wear,

so we won't make fools of ourselves.

Yes. I have to find out

if congressmen's wives are invited too.

In that case, you would of course join me to the presidential inauguration.

If that's not possible, I thought about bringing you a nice souvenir.

Can you imagine, Paty,

how would that wall look with a painting

of Mr. Dali that I will bring you from Spain?

Are you kidding?

I'll bring it to you, but we'll hang it on that wall.

Pablo, listen!

I told you things were going to come out very well.

And it is clear that you have to learn to trust me.

Your words surprise me, sir.

We never doubted that your guidance would get us to the Congress.

Strange.

Get close to the right ones and you'll make it.

Pablo, you haven't said a word since we came.

I was just thinking about character assassination.

Don't worry about that.

It is a political issue.

And politics is like war.

There aren't half-won wars, there aren't half-winners or half-losers.

There are winners and losers. That's why we have to make decisions.

We'll settle that issue later.

The issue of character assassination is a decision that's been made, sir.

That's already done.

Whose character?

Galán's.

Did you tarnish Galán's reputation?

Well, in an indirect way, yes.

What do you mean by indirect?

No, no.

I'd rather not know.

If you're going to say something, say it to Ortiz.

I don't want to end up being involved.

As Romans used to say,

"A single witness is a null witness."

Order a scotch, let's celebrate!

What is it that the Romans say?

MADRID SPAIN

Will you join me?

Is that them?

All right, rather long.

- What, man? - The flight.

- No, I don't drink. - Aguardiente.

We are gangsters!

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 undocumented situations.