In the Mud (En el barro)

EVENTS AND CHARACTERS ARE FICTIONAL.

ANY LIKENESS TO REALITY IS COINCIDENCE.

Ms. Moranzón, I imagine that you've read the prosecutor's report by now.

It's quite negative.

Your Honor, I'd like to be frank with you, if that's all right.

Go ahead.

I have been working with my client for months now on Gastón's case.

He's a four-year-old boy who lives with his mother.

And together, they live in a modest apartment in Villa Lugano.

I know this case inside out, and my opinion is very different from that.

It's true that his mother has a history of addiction.

However, she's been clean and sober for two years straight.

Gastón should stay with her.

Their house is full of love,

and I can't see anyone looking after Gastón better than Susana.

And the reason I'm sure of this is because I've witnessed it firsthand.

I've seen it.

There's a very strong and very stable emotional bond between them,

which is fundamental for the psychological development

and well-being of her son.

Or any child

that might need help in the future.

Mommy, Mommy! Look at this! Look at this! It's so cool!

Gastón, can you please just be quiet for Christ's sake?!

Mommy, look at this! Can we play?

Can we play? Let's go downstairs. Come on, Mommy.

Come on, Mommy!

Help! No!

This is a message for Miss Moranzón

on behalf of the tribunal of Dr. Martínez.

We need you to get in touch with us immediately, please.

An accident occurred involving the minor Gastón López.

I'm sorry to say he passed away.

The doctor wants to talk to you since you are familiar with this case.

MULTIPLE FRACTURES DUE TO A FALL FROM A HEIGHT

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

IN THE MUD

I'm afraid she had an allergic reaction to the sedatives.

No, you're full of shit.

That's the second girl to die in childbirth in two months.

And now we're in trouble because Judge Romero's under investigation.

Guess they found your name on the paperwork.

Really? Just my name? Well… then they must not be very good.

'Cause you're just as responsible as I am for all of this.

You heard she was screaming like crazy, crying for her baby.

So I handled things because you weren't there for her.

You're perverted.

And you've lost your edge.

You can't manipulate them the way you used to.

What're you talking about? You know exactly what my objective is here.

All I ever wanted

was to get these kids out of fucking prison and into better homes.

I'm in it for the money, and we're partners in this.

Meaning if I go down, I'm bringing you with me. You understand?

What happened with Romero? Who even told you?

I found out from the governor.

But don't worry, he's not going to do anything about it.

But he requested…

a favor of course.

Perfect.

I'll take care of this.

Hey, you came back quickly from the tests.

Everything's okay.

They're just saying you need to rest up, now that you've completed the biopsy.

Rest up?

Ever seen a spa with metal bars? Hmm?

I have to be here, but you don't.

-Tell me. Why are you here? -Well, it's my job.

It's all because of Moranzón.

All right. But still, you look young. Why not work somewhere else? Hmm?

Forgive me.

Lately, I've been so wrapped up in my own thoughts.

My husband was also transferred out of prison.

He died in a hospital.

-Just like that girl. -What girl?

The pregnant one.

They took her to give birth. Now she's gone.

-Oh, Noelia. -That's the one, Noelia.

They probably told her it was just a formality.

It was the same with my husband.

Do you know what happened to her?

"Complications during the birth," they said.

Borges.

They said you need to rest now, so quit talking to her.

Everything'll be all right.

All right, take your meds.

And stay in bed. You look quite pale. Okay?

But did you watch the videos?

Yes?

Marina, I need to ask you…

Were you ever aware that…

that… that you were being filmed every single time that you had sex?

Did you know?

Marina, the voice messages prove that there was a consensual relationship

going on between you three.

Talk to us, Marina. How else do you expect us to defend you?

We just need you to tell the truth.

I am telling you the truth. I swear.

It was all really weird from the beginning.

I remember when I first came to Buenos Aires, I didn't know anyone.

And then soon after that was when I met both of them.

They let me move in. They gave me a home.

In the beginning, the relationship with my boyfriend was

healthy and normal.

There was no jealousy at all. Later on is when it all went to shit.

And no,

I didn't know I was being recorded the whole time.

We have to reconstruct what happened that night. It's really important.

I know it's painful. Really, I do.

But I need you to be strong now.

If they were filming you every time you slept together,

it's entirely possible that Darío may have been there as well.

Of course, sure. That's true.

He probably was hiding out there too. For sure.

Okay.

That's all for now.

I'll look into this further at the courthouse, all right?

All right. I'll keep you both informed.

Whoa!

I scare you?

No, I think it's hilarious.

This is for you. I've always had a soft spot for you.

That's why I'm here.

And Moranzón doesn't know that I'm here, so don't worry, all right?

Now, we've discovered that several babies were bought and adopted

all from institutions that were run by Moranzón.

That is, this looks like child trafficking.

Son of a bitch, I knew it all along.

We have to report her.

Sure, we could do that.

Those judges are already bought off,

so we'd be shooting ourselves in the foot if we did that.

That heifer is putting kids up for adoption like they're designer handbags,

and there's no way to put an end to it, Antín?

Well, this is Argentina.

Here, the strong do what they will, and the weak suffer what they must.

Please, I don't want some bullshit quote. No, no more quotes.

I got you the information on Moranzón that you asked for.

Now you do your part because I don't want to fucking die in here.

I need more proof. Something… more convincing, more clear-cut.

-The governor and his wife… -Mm-hmm.

…have their eyes set on a little girl in here.

-The daughter of an inmate? -Mm-hmm.

For Faccia?

They want to adopt her. And Moranzón is pulling the strings.

She's trying to put pressure on the mother to convince her to hand over her daughter.

Oh, now that's interesting. How about that?

Mm-hmm.

You're on the right track.

And next weekend, you'll be with your grandson on vacation.

-What do you need? -More evidence.

Indisputable and undeniable evidence.

Excuse me. We have to go, Antín.

-Selva. -Selva.

Nice to see you, Capece.

Hey, do you want this?

-What kind? -Dulce de leche.

No, no. Going to the dentist costs me a fortune.

-China, make some tea for Lefty. -No need for that.

Aw. I think there is a need though. Sit down.

Make yourself at home.

Sit for a while.

You know the hardest part about being in here?

It's… the loneliness.

Must be for you too.

You know, when I first ran away,

I was around, I think, 17 or 18 years old.

Then I went chasing after my first boyfriend.

He was a bastard. An imbecile.

My God! But he was just the first. The first man of many.

And I was never really alone after that.

Never.

I'd jump from one relationship to another… just… like… that.

But that all changed with Crow.

I actually stayed with him, you know? I stayed with him for ten whole years.

For ten years, I was with one guy. Stood right by his side.

How crazy is that? For that long?

And it's amazing that it took getting arrested

and put into this fucking hell-hole

for me to realize we all enter this life alone,

and then we all die alone too.

Well, you could try making friends instead of making enemies.

Ah, no. No!

"Friends," she says. No!

I was talking about a different kind of loneliness.

I don't give a fucking shit about friendship in here.

Here's your cut. It wasn't a good week. That's all there is.

But this is so little.

I know your business is doing well,

so just make the girls work even more, okay?

I have to pay the girls for their work. That's all the money.

Well, you'll just explain that this is how things will work from now on.

I don't know. I would hate for my people to have to get involved.

For Lalo's sake, you know?

I know you don't want that.

I just wouldn't want things to get out of hand and then have you…

end up all on your own.

Like me.

Don't worry about it.

I surrender.