In the Mud (En el barro)

EVENTS AND CHARACTERS ARE FICTIONAL,

ANY LIKENESS TO REALITY IS COINCIDENCE.

This is Officer Rodriguez. I need some help in the family block.

We've got an inmate who needs medical attention, over.

Come on.

Ugh, I can't do this. I can't take it anymore.

-Come on, Solita. -He's heavy as fuck.

You're almost there. Keep going.

Come on. Keep going.

Hurry up. Come on.

There. Come on.

Get it off. Get the bag off his face.

I need his watch. Come on.

-Okay. -All set?

-Yeah. -Okay.

IN THE MUD

I'd like to thank all of you reporters for being here,

and all the spectators as well, but above all,

I'd like to thank my ex-classmates and colleagues

from the, uh… Penitentiary Training Academy.

We've been rubbing shoulders for many years now.

Thank you so much for being here.

And I especially wanna thank the journalists for their patience.

Yes, go on.

On top of the plan, uh,

the prison renovation initiative that you just shared with us…

Renovation and construction.

We'd like to know what steps your department's planning to take

when it comes to safety in local communities.

We're planning to fill our facilities with prisoners.

Prisons are full, right?

And that proves we're doing amazing work.

Because my job, as you know, is to keep the crooks locked up,

paying for what they did.

Yeah. So the citizens can rest easy,

enjoy the peace and tranquility of democracy.

Yes, ma'am. Last question.

Have you heard the news about the disappearance

of stock car driver Julián Aquino?

I have.

Doesn't it seem strange that the family of this driver,

the Aquinos, founded the Cartel del Sur,

one of the biggest and the most dangerous drug gangs in the province?

Your question includes many assumptions and statements.

I can't answer that with a simple yes or no.

We haven't gotten, uh, any solid intel yet,

and if we don't know anything, that's it.

It's all conjecture. Guesswork.

Fairy tales, if you will.

Thank you very much. I'll leave you with my chief of staff.

The minister of security has urgent matters to attend to,

so if you have any other concerns, please bring them to me,

as I'm his spokesperson. Thank you.

Prioritize Aquino.

Otherwise, that brat and his family will be the end of us.

Good, good, good.

Great job.

You have a knack for crime. It's in your veins, isn't it?

You learned from the best.

Well, my girls are the ones doing the real tough work.

You're the ones who have to deal with those assholes, right?

Why don't you tell Gringa what you did last night?

I mean, it was the same as always.

Knocked the guy out and stole his stuff.

Thanks for the trust, Gringa. I won't fail you.

Better not.

What matters is that you take care of my little goose with the golden ass.

ET?

Make us some tea.

Now leave me alone.

What's up with Borges?

I dunno. I didn't talk to her.

Hey, I expected to get more attitude from Borges.

What's her deal?

She gettin' old, or just overzealous?

Nah, she's smart, Gringa. She's a Borges.

She knows we're the best ones to buddy up with.

Well, just keep an eye on her.

Okay.

You're up to some shit.

I'm not sure what it is, but you are.

You're obviously trying to fuck with me. Why?

Wow. You're not just paranoid. You also jump to conclusions.

-Am I? -Yeah.

I take risks for my people. You know that.

So I'm your people, huh? Since when?

I ask you to join me so we could fuck over that goddamn bitch Gringa,

and what do you do?

-You end up becoming her mule. -I had no choice.

Nah, no way I'm buying that.

Lalo said the van wasn't at the spot we gave you.

Where'd you go, Gladys?

What were you doing?

All this fuss because I parked two blocks away?

Don't be ridiculous. Okay?

I saw a security guard by the entrance, so I just drove a little out of sight.

You're lucky I'm no snitch, Borges.

Hmm.

I'm not gonna get you in trouble with that dumbass Gringa.

But one day, you're gonna need a favor, and I'll be the one who can help you.

And you'll come crawling to me for help,

and right there and then, we're gonna settle all your debts.

Got it.

-We gotta talk. -Mm.

What happens next? I'm sick of this whole thing.

If they catch us,

I can kiss the year and a half I have left in here goodbye.

-And I wanna be with my son. -Honey.

With what you and your girlfriend did,

you'd probably get around eight years each. Okay?

Listen, I helped you girls out, and now you have to help me.

That is the deal. Hmm?

It won't be long. Just until I get my grandson back. Okay?

I'm just trying to make sure nothing happens to him.

This was no accident.

It doesn't make sense. What was she even doing there?

But do you know anyone who wanted to go after her in any way?

She's always been good to me.

Yeah, well, not everyone's gonna think the same.

Just 'cause you're close to someone doesn't mean you really know them, right?

What sign are you?

Aries. Why?

Because you feel like a Pisces.

You have this thing where you trust anyone or anything.

So are you gonna do something about her death or not?

Do you suspect anyone, Yael?

-No. -Then just stop being paranoid. Okay?

Look, I get it.

You feel bad. You're upset.

It hurts.

A normal death's hard enough to take. A fucked-up one? Even more so, right?

If I hear anything, I'll let you know.

You can take her.

The list of visitors for today.

No. This kid's not allowed in here.

Mazzini.

Sosa.

Casares. One sec.

-Gómez. -What's up?

Casares's visitor is not coming in.

Okay.

-What? -Your visit is canceled.

-But why? -Because it is. Go back to your cell.

-Whatever, I'm going in there. -You're not going in there.

-I'm already here. I'm going in. -No, you're not. Back to your cell.

-They can't do that. It's not fair. -Apparently, they can.

Goddammit, for fuck's sake.

Alazaga.

Amaya.

Rodríguez.

Díaz.

We need to be quick about this, Claudia. Okay?

I can't keep our guest in here forever, you know?

Yeah, of course we can't. And besides, it's crazy out there.

They've been talking about it on TV 24/7.

Always the same story.

Here, take this with you. Get it to his dad. Hmm?

All this hype is good. It'll push them to wrap this up.

A son for a son.

They release our kid, and we'll release that little piece of shit.

-Okay, I love you. -I love you too, honey.

-I love you. You take care. -You too, babe.

Hi.

No, don't touch me. We're not supposed to have contact.

Happy birthday, honey.

Oh, I was dying to see you. I couldn't take it anymore.

I'm so ashamed you have to see me like this.

No, don't say that. You look beautiful.

I would've loved to go to a little shop and buy you a gift, but, you know,

I couldn't do that, obviously.

So you're gonna have to, uh, settle for a letter.

It's full of clichés. I just read it, and it's kind of embarrassing,

but it's what comes out when I think of you.

Don't let them take it. Hide it somewhere.

-Okay. -Are you celebrating?

Did your sister organize anything for you?

No.

No, I'm not really a birthday guy anyway.

What matters is I'm finally 18 now.

We don't have to hide anything.

I can come visit you, right? And be with you, and…

It's too dangerous. We can't be seen in here.

-Why? -Because we can't.

People don't look kindly on my crime in here, you know?

The girls don't know.

No one knows what I'm here for, actually.

-You didn't do anything wrong. -I know that.

I know, but try explaining that to everyone else. They don't get it.

Do you talk to Vito about me?

All the time, and he's so big.

-Yeah? -He's gorgeous. You'll love him.

All of a sudden, he started talking to me with, like,

his lips up here like this, right? His mouth all funny-shaped, you know?

-Yeah. -Yeah. He looks at me…

Oh, you'll love him. You have no idea.

We can't hold hands?

UNSTABLE CONNECTION

-It's me, Nicole. -Hold on.

-Babe, wait. -Hi, kitten. How are ya?

Wait. Wait.