A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
THE FOLLOWING IS A FICTIONAL STORY INSPIRED BY
SURVIVING ESCOBAR BY JOHN JAIRO VELÁSQUEZ VÁSQUEZ.
CHARACTERS AND SITUATIONS HAVE BEEN ALTERED FOR THIS PROGRAM.
CAPITAL PRISON
The little we know is that there is a riot.
Prisoners, guards,
and some of the visitors are being held hostage
by the prisoners of cellblock number two, the paramilitary cellblock.
Inside the prison, the hostages are not communicating
as all telephone lines have been completely cut off.
The riot police have arrived at the exterior of Capital Prison
to attempt to regain control.
Okay, let's move, this is it.
You take care of Potro,
and Rego's people will be there to help.
And you take care of J.J., and be careful.
We have no one there to help us.
It's pretty dangerous in there with this shitshow going on.
Even better, that way the operation gets easier.
Can't you see that people have their minds elsewhere?
Okay, move! If not, you will get yourselves killed.
PARAMILITARY CELLBLOCK
How long is this going to take? How long?
Two hours minimum.
- No, doll, you have 30 minutes. Come on. - No, sir.
If you want this guy to become a woman,
- then give me time. - We don't have time.
Move it, time is running out.
- Fast! - Finish here, okay? Finish it.
- You don't need all that detail, man. - Okay, one moment.
Hey, eat some arepa in the meantime.
Come on, come here. Look at me.
Like this.
Pick up the phone!
Look, miss. I am waiting for a call.
- Can you please get off the... - One minute.
We interrupt this program to bring you a special news bulletin.
Attention. A few seconds ago there were more explosions and gunshots
inside Capital Prison.
The situation is serious,
as the prisoners are holding roughly 50 hostages
inside the penitentiary.
Reporting there, our journalist, Yair Méndez,
who's outside the prison.
Think about it, Mrs. Rosa.
Think of everything you've been through,
A shoot-out, jumping from the second floor,
and then being left behind in an ambulance.
Don't you think that's enough?
Let me help you, Mrs. Rosa.
We can help you.
The thing is, I don't know where she is.
But she is going to call you,
and when that happens, you will help us bring her here.
Cooperate with us.
My daughter is no fool.
That's why I'm telling you,
that's why you have to help us out. Think about it.
Think about her. Think about yourself.
Cooperate.
And if I help you out, I mean, if I cooperate,
you promise that you'll take us to the U.S. and protect us?
Of course.
We're already working with the DEA.
And we can guarantee protection for you and your daughter.
I'll say one thing...
you must provide important information.
Something that nails John Jairo.
But I have the same information that you have about him.
- Even less, maybe. - Can't you see, Mrs. Rosa?
We're trying to help you...
Like this? There's no deal.
She did talk about a stash.
A stash of papers, I mean, documents,
that implicated politicians and very important people in the country.
- And do you know where it is? - No, sir.
But your daughter does.
We need to bring Alexandra here.
She will be safe with us, Mrs. Rosa,
because she might get killed outside. Cooperate with us.
Can I use your phone again? It won't take long.
- It's a matter of life and death. - Be quick.
- Good afternoon. - How're you?
- Good. - I'm looking for Rosa Restrepo Jaramillo.
- A patient? - Well, a patient, of course!
No, there's no one with that name.
- No? Thank you. - No.
- Good morning! - Miss.
- Yes? - I'm looking for a patient
named Rosa Restrepo Jaramillo. She was admitted today?
We don't have anybody here with that name.
- Are you sure? - Yes, ma'am. Goodbye.
- This way. - Are you sure?
Yes. Be careful, don't let them mess with you.
Done, man, let's get that dude.
CAPITAL PRISON DRUG TRAFFICKERS CELLBLOCK
What's up?
Just hanging.
Make yourself at home. The boss is on his way.
Thank you, Suárez.
Mr. Piojo.
Open the door.
- Does it look right? - Yes. Done, you look beautiful.
Okay, let's hope this works.
What do you think?
Stop fucking with me, man.
Very well.
Done.
My friend, take a look, that's who you are.
Morales... Rosaura.
We're ready.
You can't negotiate with those pests, Sir.
They'll want stupid things, and riot whenever they please.
Forget the pests, I care about civilians, the hostages.
What if they kill someone, I'd be in it with the media.
You're the warden, call the brigade commander.
Get more men. Take back the prison.
By fire and sword? Ridiculous.
- Sometimes extreme measures work. - That's dangerous for me.
It's more dangerous if you do nothing.
Listen, contain them now or we won't be able to later.
Oh, God! You're so annoying.
- Is this the guy? - Yes, boss.
- And do you have what it takes? - Of course, boss, no doubt.
I'll give you a piece of advice,
for your own good and your commander's,
this has to be fast, and it has to go well.
- You got it. - You know why?
- Because I want to eat Potro's meat, son. - Count on it.
- Do you have what it takes? - Yes.
All right, son.
- Good afternoon. - How are you?
- Good, thanks. - Do me a favor,
do you have a patient named Rosa Restrepo Jaramillo?
- I think so, let me check. - Confirm if she is there, please!
Rosa Restrepo Jaramillo, Rosa Restrepo Jaramillo...
- Yes, ma'am, she is here. - Really?
I'm glad.
I'm glad. Can I talk to her?
- One moment, please. - Thank you.
Alexandra?
Alexandra, when will you stop doing foolish things?
Can't you see that your mother's life is at risk?
How is she doing?
She was admitted with a traumatic brain injury,
and she has a blood clot in her brain. She's in bad shape.
- Don't tell me that. - Yes, and you want to know what's worse?
Your husband is out of luck as well.
I don't know if you know this, but...
there's a riot with hostages at the penitentiary.
Alexandra, let us help you.
- Sir, you can't help me. - I can help you, Alexandra.
Where you are? Turn yourself in.
I need to talk to her.
The prisoners from cellblock two,
as a gesture of goodwill to fix this crisis,
have decided to release a group of hostages.
Understood. Let the women walk to the main hallway.
Dr. Bejarano!
Dr. Bejarano, I demand information about what is going on in there.
No, he won't talk. He won't even look at us.
Dr. Bejarano, I need information about my husband.
You know that if something happens, you'll have to pay, right?
- I need to know. - Enough! Let me tell you,
as soon as we get more information, we will let you know.
In the meantime, try to keep order.
Keep order!
- I need information! - They're going to release some hostages.
- Let's go. - They're releasing hostages.
- Go there, get back. - Don't touch me!
Let me go!
I hope this circus goes well, J.J.,
otherwise, you'll be eaten alive by lions.
Let's try to be positive here. If he doesn't hesitate, this will work.
Come on.
Quickly. We're sending two.
Let's go outside and keep things nice and easy.
- Come on, move, go outside. - Let's go, fast.
- Out. - Go out.
- Close the door, close it! - Hurry up.
Hello? Alexandra, my dear, how are you doing?
Hi, Mom. I'm good. I'm fine. How are you?
How are you feeling? What did the doctors say?
Well, it seems like the blood clot in my brain is pretty serious, my love.
Forgive me.
I didn't want to leave you behind, Mother,
but understand that I couldn't just stay. I tried to lift you...
Forgive me!
Don't worry, dear, we're not talking about that right now.
What I want you to do is take a cab and come here right away, okay?
I don't want to die without giving you one last hug, my love.
Wait a second, why are you talking like this?
Is it that serious?
Well, mainly because of what the doctors are saying, love.
The doctors?
Tell me one thing,
just answer yes or no.
Are they pressuring you to tell me these things?
They are, aren't they?
Mother!
No, come on, no. Don't be like this.
Listen to me, listen, you don't have to be afraid,
you haven't done anything wrong
and you don't owe them anything. Leave them alone.
Understand? They'll trick you.
I can't visit you now. Can't you see that this is a trap?
I promise you everything will be fine.
Alexandra!
Alexandra, please don't hang up, think everything through.
You are making the biggest mistake of your life.
You're putting John Jairo's life at risk.
- Let me help you. - Miss...
- We can help you. - You can't help me.
- Thank you. - How much do I owe you?
- Like a thousand pesos... - Can I get something to drink?
- Soda, water... - Anything, I don't care.
DRUG TRAFFICKERS CELLBLOCK
So what's new, Potrico?
You're quite lucky, aren't you?
You earned disability retirement.
- I'll be on the lookout. - That works.
Attention!
We're ready and in position to release ten women.
As a humanitarian gesture from our leaders in this protest.
Understood, cellblock two, give us a moment.
Tarquino! Go in with the team and get ready to receive the hostages.
As you say, Commander.
You may proceed, cellblock two.
Go slow, okay?
Please ladies, form a line
and get your identification ready. You'll go through an inspection.
- Easy, don't cry. - Tarquino, keep us posted.
Easy, that's right.
- Ana Garzón. - Relax, everything will be fine.
Yes, that's right, princess, calm down.
- Ana Pacheco. - There she is.
Claudia Salgado.
- Tatiana Ortiz. - Ortiz, yes.
- Nelly Carvajal. - I know that one. Yes, sir.
Jenny Sandoval.
Carolina Ramírez.
Ramírez...
Rosaura Morales.
Rosaura...
This one doesn't look like her picture.
Are you kidding me? Who looks like their ID photo?
We won't release anybody, send them back.
What do you mean? If she looks different, take her for an inspection.
- Do me a favor... - No!
What's going on? Get them out of here!
Get them out of here, immediately!
We must double the security. We can't let them in.
PARAMILITARY CELLBLOCK
- What happened? - This isn't working, man.
- Where's that fool? - I have no clue, he stayed behind.
Son of a bitch...
This is absurd! They noticed it right away.
Mr. J.J., what are you trying to do here?
What are you trying to do?
We were releasing hostages as proof of goodwill,
and you start abusing and scaring them, so they react like this.
Don't take me for a fool! I've been doing this a long time.
- Who were you trying to get out? - The women...
A poor lady who's just been crying and suffering in here.
I'm not an idiot.
You'd better tell Mahecha that if he doesn't stop the riot,
we'll get the police and take control of this prison,
by fire and sword, if necessary.
Good afternoon.
How much is it?
Here. Thank you.
You know that guards are like dogs, you can't make eye contact with them.
They can smell fear, and you were scared shitless.
- So I'm the fool? - I'm not saying that.
With these things we have to be smart.
Look J.J., every day I'm more and more convinced that you're just a bullshitter.
A swindler. Can you believe it? So-called Pablo Escobar's right hand man.
You're just a henchman, nothing else.
Think what you like. Blame me, if you want.
We are in control of the prison.
The guards are frantic.
The press is outside. We can still get him out.
- Yeah, right, with everybody looking? - But we can do it.
What is there to lose? Let's give it all we've got.
And what's your plan?
You must talk to people, to Percheron, Orejas,
Trujillo and the others from el Dovio.
So, what's new, Urrego?
When will you make them show some respect?
Are you a fool, man?
There are 20 women with the paramilitaries,
and you're having coffee?
- Are you kidding me? - Am I?
Do me a favor, Potrico, can you, please? Just one.
Shut your mouth, man. Do you know who you're talking to, you piece of shit?
Yes, sir.
Don't you see? I don't need permission now.
Let alone from a coward.
- No one tells me what to do. - Oh, really?
Piojito, do me a favor. Break this son of a bitch's balls.
No sir, I'm not taking it anymore, Urrego.
Not anymore. I'm sick of this.
You know where to find me.
Excuse me.
These sons of bitches cut off the phones.
Open the door.
- This one is dead, too. - Son of a bitch!
What are you trying to do there?
You can't fix this shit. Let's go to the main cellblock.
- What about the one who tried to escape? - Sir, he's one of the new inmates.
But his name isn't Adriano Camargo, as he said.
- No? So, who is he? - Well, I don't know, sir.
If he's hiding his identity, I don't think he's a henchman as we thought.
No, there's no dial tone.
Yes, wait, it's working now.
- It's gone again, what happened? - No, nothing, wait.
There! Don't move.
Don't move.
You move, we lose the connection.
- Hello? - Hello?
This is Commander Abel Mahecha, I need Castañeda.
- Who's this? - This is Commander Abel! Jesus.
Yes, one moment, please.
Your plans are worthless!
The plan fell apart at the entry gate.
Stop giving me idiotic excuses
and tell me when the fuck 3H is going to be out!
Okay, we will execute our second plan tomorrow,
but we need your help.
Count on it.
Time goes by and the families of the inmates are desperate
as there is no official statement from the authorities.
Meanwhile, Police already took control outside of the prison.
Thank you, Adriana. And...
Hey, I'm worried about what's behind the riot.
What if John Jairo planned a collective jailbreak?
No, John Jairo signed an agreement to get out of jail soon.
He wouldn't get involved in that.
So what should we do, then? Should we go to Bogotá?
CAPITAL PRISON
PARAMILITARY CELLBLOCK
Now you're going to let me pamper you, as God intended.
Come here, baby, so we can warm each other up.
Paty, now is not the time for this.
What do you mean, no? Why so surly, love?
Let me pamper you. Let me give you some love.
I know, you came to get your tip? Right.
Who's talking about money? Don't be such a fool.
Paty...
Look, you know what?
Take your money, get dressed,
and I'll find a way for you to leave.
Really? All of this money is for me?
- Yes... - Yes, baby...
Stop, enough, get dressed, Paty, get dressed.
I'm here for all your needs, okay?
I'm always available, my love.
You always have the brightest ideas, J.J.
Tell that to 3H, he was the one who bailed.
Yes? I hope that tomorrow you won't come up with the same nonsense.
- Don't worry. - I'm not worried.
- It doesn't seem like it, son. - Fool.
Let's go.
Fuck!
Capital Prison was a reflection of the activity in the streets.
There was war in each of the cellblocks.
Each group, the guerrilla, paramilitaries, and drug dealers
were on constant alert in order to survive.
The war that Colombia was living
was being replicated inside Capital Prison.
This fucker.
Why are you here?
Shoot me. Go on, shoot me.
The rat you sent to kill me couldn't do it. So here I am, kill me.
What are you talking about? Help me.
Help me.
Don't let me die, brother.
You will die, you miserable dog.
The man you sent couldn't kill me.
Kill me, go on, shoot.
It wasn't me.
I am not with Urrego anymore.
Ask around, if you want.
Look.
This is how he said goodbye.
That's what you get for being crooked.
Shoot, go on. We'll kill each other here.
In my condition?
I'm worth more alive than dead.
Help me!
Help me, brother.
COLOMBIAN MOUNTAINS
Formation.
How are you, Bernal?
What's up? How's everything?
Did you hear about Capital Prison?
Who hasn't? It's all over the news.
I'm glad you're up to date, because I need your help with something.
Come with me.
Dr. Bejarano!
How long must I wait to hear about my husband?
- You lost control of the situation. - Hey, we already told you...
When we get information we will tell you. There's nothing,
so we don't have anything to say. Let us do our job.
Let you do your job? My husband may be dead and you don't know.
Do you want to know something? Your husband is behind all of this.
Now you're going to blame him for this shitshow?
Look, whether you believe it or not, your husband will pay for all of this.
Open that door.
So what do I do? Give me information. That's all I need.
- Get her out of here. Don't mess with me. - No, don't touch me!
Don't touch me!
Do you understand the plan?
I understand.
What I don't get is why the fuck I have to do this job?
What does it have to do with me?
If it's a problem for you, Bernal, just say so and that's it.
I'm not saying it's a problem, I'm just asking for an explanation.
Capital Prison is your territory,
it will be faster if we use your people and resources.
That's why.
Also, I'm giving you an order. Do you need more reasons?
No, sir.
But this job is going to require money.
It's my brother-in-law. Don't worry about money, there isn't any.
So? Can I count on you, yes or no?
I'll do it, Mr. Castañeda.
That's great.
- Have a great trip. - Very well, then...
Everybody get ready!
Let's go and make sure that the security detail is ready!
Hurry up, come on!
We've been here for two days and no one says anything!
Excuse me, do you have any information?
No, nothing at all.
- My husband is inside. - Mine too,
and they have us here on pins and needles.
And these people are not willing to provide any information.
This can't be!
Have they said if anyone is dead or wounded?
Nothing, they won't say anything.
They'll probably carry them out of there dead,
and we'll be here, worrying.
Sir, who should I ask?
The people want to know.
Excuse me, excuse me...
CAPITAL PRISON PARAMILITARY CELLBLOCK
- Have you seen him? - No, I haven't.
- I wonder where J.J. is? - Sir, I don't know.
Well, let's keep going.
We are requesting supplies urgently!
We don't have medication, food, toilet paper, soap!
The toilets are clogged!
The hostages are getting sick!
Look, sir. First we have to go in and check the condition of the hostages
and then we can sit down and negotiate.
Well, they won't be well if we don't get what we're demanding.
Your choice.
You know perfectly well where we are, in a federal jail.
Here we follow protocol,
paperwork, permits, things that are not easy to get.
So, first we go in and check.
I don't believe a word they're saying.
If it's true, we have to act.
Okay, gentleman. We're requesting...
for a committee to go in.
We won't let any guards come in.
If you want to come in and check,
then, we authorize the access of unarmed civilians.
If not, there's no deal.
We will send a committee of unarmed civilians
as long as you guarantee the security of the group.
And then we can confirm the state of the hostages.
We accept your conditions. They have permission to come in.
They can, right?
To defend yourself.
Where are you going?
We wish you the best of luck.
- We'll be waiting for news. - Many thanks.
I reiterate, you are ready, right?
We may see dead people, wounded,
but let's follow the security protocol.
- That's the most important thing. - Dr. Bejarano,
- I'll go in with you. - They asked for civilians.
We said an unarmed committee. We must be careful.
- I could wear plainclothes, if needed. - Fine, Díaz.
God help us all.
Open the door!
Let's go get lunch.
Come on, Reinaldo,
let's find a decent place to get lunch. I'm so hungry.
Wait a second, wait.
And what is that woman doing?
What a weird woman.
What?
Now she's getting in my car.
- What's wrong with you? - Please forgive me, but I need your help.
Why are you hiding from those guys?
- It's a long story. - Oh, really?
If you barge into my car, you owe me a story.
Tell me. I love action movies!
No, wait...
- Oh, God. - Calm down.
They can't see into the car. Tell your story.
Turn off the engine, Rei.
- Tell me. - Are you sure?
Oh, no!