The 4th Company (La 4ª compañía)

A NETFLIX FILM

DEDICATED TO FERNANDO ARREOLA FRANCO

Some bullets pass by. Others shoot you down.

But they all puncture our existence.

On the way, we protect ourselves with whatever armor we have.

I had a space suit,

full American football equipment to soften the blows of prison

during this first expedition.

The nation's prison system is an example to the world.

Years ago Switzerland, Sweden and Mexico

began campaigns to modernize incarceration.

Today, we are proud that Mexico City prisons set an example to the world.

We've tried to change the prison dynamic. With our American football team, named the "Dogs,"

for the first time in 20 years in Mexico's prisons and in police history,

a police chief is providing all of our equipment.

That's a source of great satisfaction for me.

November 8th, 1979. Put the right date on your checks today.

20 years ago today, my dad gave my mom a huge beating. She fell down the stairs, pregnant. That's how I came into the world.

My first escape.

An expert in breakouts, I ran away from kindergarten, school, home...

But not from juvie. That's where I found my friends.

We always met in front of the juvie judge.

Then from one detention center to the next.

It was like we had a generational agreement.

Then, while sentencing me, one of them said,

"Don't worry, Easy Rider. Grab your equipment.

You're off to the big house now."

Shift change!

"No friends there."

This is the prison, gentlemen.

You're in Santa Martha now.

You've got to ask for everything.

Or is there a badass among you?

Because we've got pretty little cages for badasses.

Check your balls at the door. Roll call three times a day.

-Answer everything with "Yes, sir!" -Yes, sir!

Now it's time to strip, ladies.

On the count of "three." One...

Two...

And...

They were only wrong about me once, the first time.

I was a kid, not a thief.

BASED ON A TRUE STORY

The new ones arrived without incident, sir.

What's this?

Sir, I heard there's a team here.

Spread your cheeks.

Next.

Chief? How long have you been here?

48 years.

When I arrived, I was like you.

Counting every year, every day, every idea to get out of here.

They call me Burrero.

But everyone knows me for trying what no one else did.

On the afternoon of August 18th, 1971,

the prison was deserted.

Everyone was watching a movie in the auditorium.

Except Mr. Kaplan, his friend Castro and me.

I followed them discreetly, like I'd been doing for years.

Suddenly, there it was.

My hope was descending slowly.

We all ran towards it.

But even hope wants to be free.

Step aside.

Hold still.

Chief?

Do me a favor.

A cup.

Dented skillet.

Water until toads are coming out of their asses!

You're not in Santa Martha to sleep!

You're here to shape up, so get tough.

We've got a hole for cocksuckers who get out of line.

150 tender new chickens at Santa Martha. We'll teach them a thing or two.

Here, we respect visitors.

No bloodshed here, you sons of bitches!

Let me fuck him up. I'm not armed, I'm clean, man.

Go for it, tough guys!

No fucking janitor touches me, faggot!

I'll show you who's tough.

Santa Martha is no cakewalk.

I would slit my wrists

And pour my blood at your feet

To show you my love Could not be greater

And then die afterwards

Yet your blue eyes...

Listen, Combate.

To get to a different world,

you've got to think different, buddy.

Palafox, knock off the radio!

Nothing but shadows Caressing my hands...

To get to a different world?

There! To hell with Yankee imperialism, right?

To hell with it!

To hell with it.

"To get to a different world."

This endless drama

Nothing but shadows

Between your life and mine

Nothing but shadows

Between your love and mine

We're going to make history.

The Santa Martha Dogs are living proof

that rehabilitation is possible.

I'll now hand over to Mr. Guillermo López,

thanking him once again

for honoring this prison with his presence.

You're too kind, General Antolín.

Let's take advantage of the abundance

and realize projects...

-Mr. Vaca, El Negro's getting impatient. -Stop nagging, Florecita.

Thanks to the President's generosity, our sport is now a national project!

Mexicans, we are one nation!

As head of the National Sports Institute...

it is my privilege to inform you

that the Mexican League of American Football

has asked me to invite you, the Dogs,

to participate in next season's tournament!

Now you're talking, Memo López! Long live National Sports!

Dogs, Dogs, Dogs!

It took hard work to get here. Now prove that you deserve it.

If you're true champions, you have my support.

We're going to send you outside to play.

Now you're talking, boss! That's right!

Dogs, Dogs, Dogs!

I'll be glad when that dog's dead.

All you really need is a sponsor.

And your sponsor...

is me.

-Florecita was meant to be the sponsor. -They won't be pushovers.

The League guys are pros.

That's why we'll wring their necks. Thanks to princesses like you.

-And because we're tougher. -Think what they'll say.

"We're up against a bunch of cons." They're gonna talk!

Listen, princess. Here, you pay your debt to society.

You make a deal with God for what you owe Him.

And what society owes you?

When you get out, you'll get your due.

In the meantime, you score a touchdown.

You can't waste your life locked up here.

Just what you have: down... Down...

Cut the crap. Get on with it.

Move it, fat mariachi!

This is the scum I'll be working with?

You can show me what you're worth.

Let's see how bad you are.

Professor Patiño is your new coach.

The Director supports you.

And I want to see results.

General Negro has been kind,

decent and sporting to put you forward as a team.

So I want us to commit to winning first place for him.

-Dogs? -Yes, sir!

XHTV viewers, Channel 4 is broadcasting live

from the majestic Palace of Fine Arts...

FOUR VILLAINS ROB TRUCK

Would you honestly change nothing?

I'd live my life over again, champ. Exactly the same.

If I hadn't taken that bus, I wouldn't be here.

My thing was football.

I even thought I'd be in the paper.

Don't make me cry.

I dreamed of flying.

But guess what? 845 days...

and I always wake up here.

Syringe, alcohol!

Rations!

What are you doing, asshole? Shut up!

Open up! Help!

From your uncle.

Thank him for me. How is he?

Very well.

Mom, I don't want to play anymore.

But sports are good for you. You'll be fine.

Yeah, but I don't like football.

I'm just their punching bag.

-The doctor told us it's for the best. -Sir?

-I'm not having fun here, Mom. -My dear son.

The doctor said he'd see what he can do for me.

Thanks.

Look, I pray for you every day.

-What's up? -Hey.

-You play with the Dogs now? -No, Doc gave it to me.

-Excuse me. -He's been really cool to me lately.

Thanks, Doctor.

See you.

Sir?

I want to go straight.

Football will help me.

Give me a chance.

You're here for a lesson you didn't get outside.

Rules must be followed.

Is that how you escape solitary?

First, rehabilitation. We've got a long way to go.

-What are you in for? -Car theft.

We're going to help you.

Oh, we had some good times back then.

-We fought a few times. -You always beat me up.

-Your old lady made me. -And you did as she said.

It was for your own good, to keep you from the wrong crowd.