The Minions of Midas (Los favoritos de Midas)

A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES

WE'RE LETTING IT HAPPEN

POLITICAL AND SOCIAL EQUALITY

NEW POST

THE MINIONS OF MIDAS

PUBLISH

50 DAYS EARLIER

Social unrest continues to surge on the continent

and violence is now threatening political stability.

A violence that has been spreading intermittently

from nation to nation throughout Europe,

without clear motives, without clear demands,

and no discernible leadership.

Though it's taken time, it's clear that Spain

is also experiencing its brand of this unrest

with what is now being called "The Spanish Revolt."

It all began two weeks ago, sparked by what started as a peaceful protest

of an electricity rate increase.

Little by little, thousands of people,

from every walk of life, have joined.

We're fed up, you don't want to see that.

Now it's too late.

We're done with your laws and your political parties

so listen very carefully.

Your days are over.

This is the first battle of a war.

We are unstoppable!

And you're the ones who are going to be afraid now.

- Is that for me? - That's for Mr. Genovés.

Dear Mr. Genovés,

We request that you sell the necessary numbers of shares in your possession,

up to the sum of 50 million euros in cash.

Good morning.

We have no desire to pressure you unduly

so we are allowing you ten days,

starting today, to carry out our demands.

Also, if you prefer,

we will accept payment in installments.

Please bear in mind that we can not accept

any payments of less than five million euros.

Come in.

Rest assured, Mr. Genovés,

that we don't have even the slightest feeling of animosity towards you.

You will soon understand that, like yourself,

we are simple businessmen, with one small difference:

we are devoted to a certain kind of belief

which although is incredibly lucrative,

it demands the elimination of certain ethical scruples.

We would therefore be very grateful

if you'd refrain from involving the police in our nascent relationship.

When you have understood and accepted our conditions,

place a personal ad in The National Observer,

including your initials indicating your agreement.

It'd be preferable if this occurs before October 1st.

And if it doesn't,

a person chosen at random will die that day on Avenida de Valvanera

at sunrise.

We do not know that person.

And you don't either.

But only you can save them.

Until then, cordially yours,

The Minions of Midas.

Gloria!

You're still here?

Good evening, sir. I'm just about to leave.

- Should I put that away? - Yes, thanks.

Put it in the back room for now.

It was a gift. I don't know what to do with it yet.

Mr. Victor?

What's up?

Why don't you let me start unpacking the boxes?

No, let's do that together, Gloria.

Most of it's just paperwork. I'll let you know.

Do you need anything else?

No.

No, thank you. Get some sleep.

Good night.

Good night.

You moved into this place eight months ago.

When you settle in, you'll feel better.

THE MINIONS OF MIDAS

THE MYTH OF KING MIDAS

MIDAS ORGANIZATION

MIDAS EXTORTION

THE TEMPTATION OF MIDAS

Come on.

Go in!

Sit down, miss.

You are in no danger here.

Welcome.

I understand that you just landed a few hours ago.

I don't think you feel very happy right now.

Thank you for coming.

I don't usually cover this kind of story.

- I'm not a war reporter - I know.

I didn't choose you for that.

We share the same profession.

Please, I beg you to turn on your recorder and we'll begin.

I, uh, collaborated with this criminal regime for 28 years.

I have been lying for this government all this time.

I'm here with you now, then soon I'll be with other journalists

to admit my responsibility in all of it.

The thousands of deaths, the dead children,

and the exterminated generations that will never come back.

Too little, too late.

It's the only thing I can… offer.

That and the information I possess.

One of the leading banks in your country

has been financing this government for six years.

It makes huge profits from the sale of arms to this government.

They do it through two European banks and a Libyan one,

all belonging to the conglomerate of Banco Industrial in Madrid.

The details of all the movements are here.

The worst of all is that it's legal.

But the Banco Industrial…

Are you sure that I am the right person?

Your newspaper has a good reputation.

And I read your article about the Central Bank.

Impulsive,

but honest.

Why now?

I was born here.

So was my son.

And I think I will die here.

Things can keep getting worse.

Always.

I just can't keep looking the other way.

Just nine months ago,

hardly anyone knew the name Víctor Genovés.

Then suddenly he became CEO

of one of the nation's leading media groups.

To the surprise of everyone,

he inherited the financial empire of Antonio Malvar.

Today, the Malvar Group has overcome the fragile situation

that was brought on by the death of its founder,

and now investor interest in the stock is quite bullish.

Víctor Genovés.

- Congratulations and welcome. - Pleasure. Thanks.

Let's start with an obvious question…

Why you?

Well, I'd have to say…

INTERVIEW WITH VÍCTOR GENOVÉS CEO, MALVAR GROUP

…that's the question I keep asking myself.

You were very close with Antonio Malvar.

You must have some idea why he chose you.

Antonio Malvar was very unusual.

Not your average businessman.

He had unshakable faith in our system,

something that's not common these days.

He believed profit could become a social driving force.

But it wasn't about just earning money.

He believed it was crucial to be proud of how you earned it.

I suppose managing The National Observer,

the group's main paper, is proof of that.

Uh-huh.

Hasn't it been a long time since that old paper

has been able to turn a profit, though?

The National Observer has always played

a fundamental part in the democratic transition of this country

and that continues.

So you may say it's an old paper,

but it's still a symbol to a lot of people.

Well, it's a symbol,

but that's not sustainable in the long term.

Fucking bitch!

And the only blemish, by the way, experts see in your management of the Group.

Well, with the Internet

a lot of media companies began making cuts, slimming down.

We chose to double down on our strength, we committed to quality and prestige.

Let's go, Genovés is expecting us.

Our goal is to become the leading newspaper in Spain,

and over the long term, a major business.

We waited until we had it about nailed down.

Congratulations on getting that interview.

The reality is they're selling arms, Víctor. Lots of arms.

To a dictator.

We followed the trail between the sale of those arms

and the massacre in Al Bayda.

Two hundred dead, among them 60 children.

Clearly we have a story here.

That bank has financed our group the last 15 years.

They gave us a line of credit on millions of euros.

Not to mention, they own 4% of our company shares.

It's not a story, it's a bomb.

What's more, The Observer is still the newspaper it is

because I persuaded lots of people

to accept its losses…

including the Banco Industrial.

All I can say is, I've worked six months to get this story right.

And it's an absolute scandal.

and I owe it to Said Alfaad.

Let's suppose this is real, totally real,

and putting aside your personal sentiment,

why do we have to publish it?

Why publish something that could stop us

from publishing other stories just as important?

We have no choice about this.

And my personal sentiment aside,

as well as business reasons,

it's the right thing.