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 DRUG TRAFFICKERS CELLBLOCK
What were you thinking? That I wouldn't figure it out?
Right? Sure, the stupid Alexandra.
How the hell could you tell Caspa to give me a bag full of drugs?
To me? You want to completely fuck me over?
Fuck you, John Jairo.
Oh, Gabriel.
- Hello, beautiful. - Hello.
How are you?
I'm sorry for calling you.
I don't know anyone here in Bogotá.
No, no need to be sorry. If I gave you my number, it's so that
you would call me, right? And, well, here I am.
What's going on with you?
I know this is going to sound absurd,
but I don't want to talk about me.
Then let me ask a different question.
How can I help you?
I don't know.
Oh, no. Gabriel, look...
I don't want you to get the wrong idea.
I just want...
you to spend time with me, have a drink, and that's it.
- Just that. - Okay, that sounds perfect, then.
Hey, papá. One rum, please.
Thank you.
And then? What do we talk about?
Music? That's what I do. We can talk about that.
- Let's talk about music. - Sure.
Have you heard our latest?
No? I'll sing it for you. It goes:
They invited me again
To the house of rhythm,
Where everything was
Conga and bongo
CAPITAL PRISON
How come these guys all of a sudden want to start playing soccer?
I don't know.
They want permission to hold a tournament tomorrow.
A tournament? And who's organizing it?
Bonilla and some others in Cellblock Three.
- Mr. Velásquez isn't part of this, right? - Not as far as I know.
Or at least, he's not the one seeking permission.
As fucked up as he is, I don't think he could play.
Well, let them do it. Let them play.
I think it's good.
I give my authorization.
I'll let them know. Excuse me.
Pineda.
Let the guards know.
There's more to this little tournament story.
- We'd better keep our eyes open. - Yes, sir.
How was your night, Popeye?
Did you like the apartment, bro?
Yes, it's great.
Did they curl up and spoon you?
- Because they love to get close here, bro. - Oh!
All right, everyone in the shower. Quick.
Move it!
All right, sir...
What is it you want?
I have information.
Talk.
You know what I would like?
To spend a weekend at home.
I'm not Bejarano.
You're not going to blackmail me.
You know what? Take me back.
Pineda, take him.
Suit yourself, but, if this jail gets filled up with garbage,
- remember me. - What garbage are we talking about?
The canary doesn't sing without birdseed.
The most I could offer you would be one day leave.
Come back the same night, but with a guard.
All depending on what you give me.
So do me a favor and tell me what the fuck is going on.
They're going to start bringing coke into the jail.
That information is useless to me.
They try to bring coke in every day.
Yes, but they're going to put J.J. into the game tomorrow.
Is that useless to you, too?
Are you sure?
If I'm telling you, it's because I'm sure.
What more do you know?
They're going to send in a remote control helicopter.
A token of my love, my love
Is what I've been saving to give to you today
A token of my love, my love
And an unexpected kiss
To warm your heart
They say that what happens isn't a coincidence
He who seeks, shall always find, this isn't by chance
I'm telling you
I know that we were made for each other, let's not let this moment
Slip away from us by doubting
Let me give you a token of my love, let's go little by little
And then you can tell me
Let me give you a token of my love, let's go little by little
And then you can tell me
A token of my love, my love A token of my love, my love
Is what I've been saving
to give to you today
Thank you, we'll do another in a little bit. Thank you.
Come on, beautiful, why that face? You look so sad.
When I was singing, you were all smiles, super happy.
And then I come and you look all mad, why?
Oh, Gabriel. No, I'm so sorry, it's such a drag, isn't it?
Having to deal with all this sadness I have.
Look, we haven't known each other long.
But if there's one thing I can do right now...
it's to listen. So tell me.
Let it out. You'll feel better.
Well...
I just got tired, Gabriel.
Tired of believing.
Of being judged.
Of risking everything.
Of doing things I don't want to do. Of being disappointed.
And of not having a life.
I got tired of it.
You know what, Alex?
What you have...
is that you're heartsick.
Now you're like a little bird, all...
depressed, with a broken heart, but there's a cure for that.
I have the cure for it.
If you let me, I'll cure you.
- Right now, seriously. - Oh, Gabriel.
Let me cure you, my love.
- Oh, you look so tired. - Yes, I didn't sleep well.
Of course, you were worrying all night about that damn game.
- Yes. - Clemente, you should cancel it.
We know that it's J.J.'s plan to bring drugs in.
What are you waiting for?
No, but if we cancel it, he might retreat.
We have the opportunity to alert the press,
so the country can see what this criminal is doing from the jail.
Clemente, that isn't your job.
It's not only that.
We also need the evidence to expedite J.J.'s extradition.
That guy's a hot potato.
If anything happens to him, my career is ruined.
And, if I don't do anything, then...
he's going to take over the whole jail.
Oh, I don't know.
But what?
What the...
Aren't you going to get out, sir?
Hey, you slammed on the brakes right in front of me.
"Slammed on the brakes." Are you on drugs? No matter.
The police will be here soon, they'll deal with this.
No, man.
Wait, take this, for some gum, man.
That won't even cover a car wash.
Sorry, the police will arrive, make a report.
It'll be worked out.
Look, you can just bump that out. Look, man.
Oh, Holy Maria...
- Don't worry, they should already... - Bro, here, take this.
This is a sacrifice.
That's for my daughter's 15th birthday party,
but I'll make the sacrifice.
- Come on, Clemente. - Tell him, please. Please.
He doesn't have money. Let's go.
If we wait for the police it'll be nighttime
and we'll miss the game.
Come on, let's go.
Go on, bro.
Be careful, sir, all right?
- What a good little cop. - So fucking arrogant.
SAMPREDO'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN TREASURER
- What's wrong? - No, nothing. Nothing.
I'm fine.
I think you caught the same virus I have.
No.
You know that I'm made of steel. It's nothing.
Tiago, listen, I'm here to take care of you.
To pamper you day and night.
I know...
you...
you are my strength...
and I'm so thankful.
I don't know what I'd do...
if I didn't have you by my side.
Come on, sit up a bit.
Tiago, breathe.
Tiago.
Tiago, that's blood, Tiago!
Let's get to a hospital.
Alejo, no, I could go back to jail.
That doesn't matter. Hello? Miss, an ambulance, please.
They'll understand, Tiago. It's your health.
Tiago, breathe. María!
CAPITAL PRISON
Have you been watching the sky?
Of course, sir. As you ordered, we're watching.
If you see anything, let me know.
- Yes, sir. - All right.
The garbage truck is here, Search it carefully.
Yes, sir, as you wish.
In the front, the back, all around.
Go on.
Let's go, my soldiers!
Let's do it! A goal!
I think the helicopter story is just something
that guy Zurcido made up.
And what reason would he have for making it up?
Maybe to get out for the day,
to do some favor out there for Velásquez.
Well then, listen to me. Cancel this game right away.
Cancel it.
- What's up, García? - Good, how are you?
Attention all units,
at any moment that device could drop something in the jail.
Be alert, men. Be alert.
- Pineda, call Franco for me. - Franco...
Shoot it down now, shoot it down!
Come on, come on, come on.
- Bro. - Get out, get out.
All right gentlemen, what the hell were you trying to do here, huh?
No one is going to speak?
Sure, no one's speaking.
Wonderful.
All right, sir, what is your game?
Don't ask me. That shit isn't mine.
We're going to search every hole in this cellblock.
And you're not moving an inch! You hear me?
Pineda.
Alejandro?
Sir.
Uh, I'm sorry. We couldn't do anything for Mr. Medel.
He arrived in very bad shape.
Tiago is dead?
I'm very sorry, really. Believe me.
The medical board of the La Misericordia Hospital regrets to inform the media
of the death of Mr. Tiago Medel, who was admitted to the hospital
with renal failure.
Which, unfortunately, took his life.
We wish to affirm that the entire medical and clinical staff
used the best teams, equipment, professionalism,
That man paid a high price for telling an inconvenient truth
for his friends in power.
He betrayed the alliance between the government and the mafia.
And that alliance would bring nothing more than
more crimes, more war, more impunity.
They killed Tiago Medel,
that story about renal failure is a lie.
He never had kidney problems.
They poisoned him,
and probably me, too. I have the same symptoms.
They killed him for telling the truth about the narco tapes.
I demand...
that a full investigation be made.
Because Tiago's death cannot go unpunished.
Unpunished? Unpunished is Colombia's last name, boy.
Faggots are better off dead.
Bro, let me in, I just want to talk.
- What's going on, piojo? - The boss is resting.
I need to speak with you!
Piojo?
Boss, it's J.J.
Do me a favor.
Tell Mr. Popeye to go three blocks beyond hell,
and to leave me the fuck alone!
You heard.
Listen, I need to speak with you about a very sensitive subject.
You'll want to hear this.
Did you hear the news?
I took care of the Medel job for you.
And you think I'll believe that you killed him?
Get out of here.
I ordered him poisoned so they wouldn't implicate me.
You don't want to believe me, it's your problem.
I came to talk about this.
Relax.
Keep the change.
- How did you get this, boy? - That's not your concern.
Your only concern is that it's yours, period.
This is in exchange for what, bro?
In exchange for giving me back my cell.
You'll keep being the boss of the cellblock, but you leave me alone.
Bringing drugs in here is incredibly dangerous.
It's insane.
But I'll do it for you. I'll supply you with all that you want.
You sell it, continue with your business and everybody's good.
I accept.
And you know what you earned? One, that I won't look at you.
I'll ignore you. I won't talk to you.
And what's even more, I won't touch you, boy.
But for me...
you're still dog shit.
Keep walking your way, and you'll step in it.
You too, ball sucker.
That was the very best we could get for you in the cellblock.
This cell is going to be great.
Much better than sleeping in a box.
I need a nice pillow, too. Look, I arranged some money for you.
- Did you confirm delivery? - Yes, my wife has it.
And the guys got it, too.
They're waiting for your word,
and they'll do it whenever you want, bro.
It's not necessary anymore.
Urrego is leaving me alone.
At least, for now. So, we have to be alert.
He's not going to want to mess with you again, bro,
after the last thing you did. You beat him.
Yes, I could have won all of this, but that's the least of it.
What we need to win is the respect of the cellblock.
We're going to fill this place with drugs.
We'll see who ends up looking at the other one like he's shit.
What did the man say, sweetheart?
Take your nose cocktail.
You know whose ass you have to take care of.
All good, boss, I would die for you.
Amen.
With two such powerful drug cartels,
we had a drug trafficking school with the best teachers.
And they, the leaders, knew that whoever controls the goods,
has the power.
That's why, in jail, drugs were worth more than money,
because they could buy consciences, lives, whatever.
Sadly, for my country, the jails are an accurate reflection
of all the evils that exist in our society.
They're far from being the place where criminals get their just reward.
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
Hey, what did I miss, Detective?
You didn't miss shit.
Brother, listen to me. J.J. is serving his sentence.
The job is done. Turn the page already.
I'm sure that Popeye is still committing crimes from jail.
We have signs here to keep investigating him.
Okay, perfect. Let's say I want to help you.
At the end of the day, it helps me,
because it will speed up the process of extradition.
But under one condition.
Eat shit.
We have to follow my strategies to bring him down.
Durán, this is very simple, brother.
If we're dealing with a criminal we have to think like criminals,
don't you think?
I'm not going to do anything that's against the law.
Relax, let me finish. Just listen to me and then you can decide,
all right?
You're so happy with the 30 years...
Don't you think I need to do more?
I'm just a jerk who's going to do 30 years
because his wife asked him to turn himself in.
I'm an asshole.
What happened to you?
What are you saying?
Huh?
A man was giving it to you.
All right.
Wait. You think this is so easy?
A token of my love, my love...
Huh?
A token of my love, my love...
I knew it! I knew something wasn't right!
Because if I go there, they'll arrest me!
Is that what you want? You want to fuck up my life?
Fuck you, John Jairo.
And look at your skin,
How it responds,
I'm dying to touch it one more time.
Don't answer! Don't answer!
Relax, my little princess.
I'm not going to answer. Hey, relax.
I don't think your husband would want to hear my voice this early, no?
Hey, why that face? Huh?
Why that face?
What happened last night was beautiful, wasn't it?
It was delicious, wonderful.
Why such an anguished face? As if we'd killed someone?
We didn't, did we?
And besides, I think we're adult enough, we can deal with the situation.
- Gabriel. - What's wrong?
- Do you want to know who my husband is? - Who is your husband?
His name is John Jairo Velásquez.
Have you ever heard of Popeye?
Popeye?
- You haven't heard of him? - No.
No.
Popeye is Pablo Escobar's hitman.
He's a murderer.
The what?
The hitman? Alex, the hitman?
Alex, and...
- Now you're telling me? - Look, I'm telling you so you'll go.
Get out of here. Don't come back, Gabriel.
- No, I can't do that. - You have to.
No, I can't do that. Look at me. No. I can't.
Look, forgive me...
Listen, I like you. But it's just that all this is my fault.
Because I shouldn't have let things get to this point.
- But they did. - No... yes, they did.
- It's just that I... - Look at me.
You have to go before something bad happens to you.
- What do you mean? - This is no game.
Leave, please.
- Alex! - Leave.
CAPITAL PRISON DRUG TRAFFICKERS CELLBLOCK
I need you to not take your eyes off of J.J.
I want to know all his movements, what his routes are,
understand?
But what for, don Iván?
Let him keep getting the stuff in, and we'll just distribute it.
Less risk for us and more trouble for him.
Are you an idiot or what?
Are you?
If J.J. controls the goods, he can control the whole cellblock.
I need you to talk with all the boys.
Watch everything, don't take your eyes off him.
Stay on top of him. On his jugular.
All right, boss.
Bro.
Do you know where Alexandra is?
Bro, you know, she's bailed on me, too.
After that little fuck-up of yours, she's furious, bro.
Why don't you save me the lecture?
I need to keep her happy. The last thing I need is a pissed-off wife.
Then what are you planning to do, Pope?
What are you going to do? I can't do anything in here.
Look for her, find her, flood her up with gifts,
but do me a favor and soften her up.
Listen to this one. Would you like a mango lemonade, son?
Huh?
Then don't do shit. Let's wait for her to talk.
That'll be good for me. You can keep me company here.
Hey, calm down, Pope, hey, Holy Mary...
I'll see what I can do, bro.
Also the virus here hasn't stopped.
I need more B Complex and more vitamins.
Sure, bro, got it, all good.
All right, soldier.
Bless you. Big hug.
- Good afternoon. - Good afternoon.
License and registration, please?
Yes, of course.
- Are you the owner of the vehicle? - Yes, I am.
You're the singer from Trópico, right?
Yes, that's me, too.
- My wife loves your songs. - Oh, I'm so glad.
- Will you open your trunk, please? - Yes, of course.
- That's not mine, officer. - What's this?
- That's not mine. - It's in your car.
Well, it's not mine, I didn't put it there.
- Sir, we need to... - Officer, that...
This is cocaine.
- No, but it's not mine. - Camacho.
- Cuff him. - That's not mine.
- You're going to the station. - Station?
- Camacho! - What do you mean?
Officer, listen to me.
- I didn't put it there. - Headquarters.
Officer.
Look, sir.
This...
was found in your cellblock.
You're blaming me for that?
Very smart, sir.
You can't blame me for that, papi.
- That's not mine. - It may not be yours.
But you're not keeping your side of the deal.
Didn't we agree you would keep everyone in line?
I've got my people in order.
My boys are all in line, papi.
Something very different...
is that scum J.J.
Because, from what I can tell...
the lack of authority allows him do whatever he wants.
Are you trying to say that this belongs to Velásquez, then?
Let's do the math, man.
That's not mine. It doesn't belong to my people.
Who's left?
Search there, doll, go on.
Clean.
So, how did they get it in?
No, I'm just an inmate.
I'm not a guard.
And I'm not the director of this prison, either.
We both know I'm not a saint.
But my hands are clean, papi.
Go right ahead.
You know how or should I help?
- Go ahead, help. - Pineda.
Proceed, go on.
There, that's it. Put you hand right in.
Search...
That's it.
That's it, very good.
Yes, thank you.
What happened?
- What did they say? - There's no money.
But what do you mean, Clemente? We need those cameras fast.
We need everything, but there's no money. What do we do?
We go to the narcos' cellblock
and conduct another search.
We search one side, they bring in drugs from the other.
That's how it is.
At least we're showing them that you're there,
on top of them. They don't have it easy.
Those are just half measures, Pineda.
All right, then...
Clemente! The visitors! That's where the leak is!
That's where we have to shore up security.
Be realistic, Pineda.
They haven't approved reinforcements.
My hands are tied. What do you want me to do?
Hello, beautiful. Come on, my love, hey!
Why so abrupt, man?
How are you? Good or not?
Why didn't they announce you?
My love, easy, it's me. I'm the one who should be annoyed.
You've been hiding from me.
There was no other way.
What do you want?
I want you to listen to me.
You've been giving Popeye a hard time,
and he doesn't have anything to do with that. I did.
If you came here as a go-between, get out of here. Go on.
Oh, Holy Mary, you are really...
it was me, I'm the one who made you put...
Are you going to listen to me?
Look, it wasn't him. It was me, so hit me if you want.
Oh, no. Thanks, Caspa,
for clarifying that John is a saint. No, really, I feel much better now.
Oh, Holy Mary, it's the truth, beautiful.
Yes, the truth. Leave, all right?
And tell him not to contact me again. I'm not kidding.
I don't want to hear from him.
- I'm just doing my job. - That's it.
Hey, Holy Mary!
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE INTERROGATION ROOM
- Here we go... - Mr. Gabriel Mendoza.
Nice to meet you. I'm Detective Durán from the prosecutor's office.
I'm handling your case.
Tell me what case, because as far as I know,
yesterday, you didn't have any case. So please, make me happy
and explain to me what my case is.
Okay, I'm going to explain everything from the beginning.
We have some photographs that involve you directly
with Alexandra Restrepo.
She's John Jairo Velásquez Vásquez's wife.
That proves that you have ties with the Medellín cartel.
Oh! So, you're accusing me of being a drug dealer?
Look, Detective. I deal. Didn't you know I'm a dealer?
I deal music, joy, concerts.
Save yourself that story that everyone tells here.
Look, Detective, I don't need a cover.
I've made three records.
I have a clean life and a clean career
which can get fucking ruined with everything that's happening here.
So, no, Detective, I don't need a cover.
It's going to go to shit because here, what's really important,
is that you rot in jail.
I need to make a phone call, because you're accusing me
of things I haven't done.
Yesterday I had a normal life.
And today I'm in the goddamn prosecutor's office in Colombia
being accused of being a drug trafficker!
So get me a telephone now.
I need to call my lawyer.
Explain your relationship to Alexandra.
I didn't know who Alexandra was, or who her husband was.
I just met her.
Tell me, please, Detective, do you really believe
that even the craziest person
would get involved with the wife of the biggest killer
in Colombia at this moment?
Let's be real. Who would do that?
I didn't have the slightest idea who she was.
Tell me how those drugs ended up in your car.
Someone's trying to hurt me, but I didn't put it there, Detective.
Let's do this. I'm going to give you some time alone to think,
so you can realize it's better to be on the side of the law.
What law?
Colombia's law. What fucking law?
What kind of fucking law is that?
PRISON MANAGEMENT
ARCHIVE
Here she comes.
Hey. How did it go? Did you get it?
Well, yes, sir. Listen. This is what you asked me for.
- Now are you going to give me my son? - Yes, relax.
Tonight, we'll bring the baby back home.
Here, take this so you can buy something for the brat.
Keep your mouth shut and mention this to no one, okay?
Because we know everything about where you live,
the little brat's nursery school, your mother's house.
Yes, I'm not going to say anything to anyone.
How could you think that?
CAPITAL PRISON GUERRILLAS CELLBLOCK
Commander, I have the package.
Now, find a way to get it to me safely.
Things are really fucked here. I don't want any mistakes.
Don't worry, sir. I'll find a way to get the delivery straight to you.
I hope so. I'll be waiting.
PARAMILITARY CELLBLOCK
Torres.
Tell me something.
Is it true that the narcos have someone helping them bring shit into the jail?
Really? Not as far as I know, sir.
Do I look like an idiot to you?
Are you in charge of information?
Look, I don't know anything. I can find out if you want,
Find out. And don't take me for a fool.
Move it.
Hurry up.
Got it. Thanks, man.
A pleasure, at your service.
DRUG TRAFFICKERS CELLBLOCK
- Velásquez, against the wall. A search. - Why me?
Because I feel like it and I can.
Oh, man.
A package is going to arrive the same way.
I'll do it, but it's gonna cost double.
What do you mean?
It's either that or I'll sell the route to a higher bidder.
Mahecha is offering me a lot of money for that information.
No, careful there. You know what it's like with me.
So what then? Double or nothing, hmm?
All right.
You can go.
Look, Detective.
I don't know what to say.
I have no idea what's going on.
All this seems like a bad joke.
I've never in my life had anything to do either with cartels,
or with drugs, or with any of the people you mentioned.
And on top of that, there's a possibility...
that I might end up in jail? Seriously?
- Look at me. - Sit down.
Sit down!
Look at me.
If I go to jail, they'll beat the shit out of me.
They'll fuck me over. But forget about jail, even.
If this gets out in public, my life will be fucked.
I could believe you...
but I need you to help me.
How much do you want?
Don't be an idiot.
I need you to help me catch Alexandra and everyone she works with.
Or are you going to tell me you didn't know she was John Jairo's wife?
I didn't know.
I didn't have any idea. I just found out today.
And like I told you who would be so crazy
as to be with the wife of that guy?
I ran out of there the minute I found out.
I had no idea.
I'm sure she planted the drugs on you.
- Alexandra? - Alexandra.
Why? What for?
To move it. To traffic it.
She obviously thinks that celebrities get searched less.
Or maybe she felt like fucking you over.
So what do I do, then?
Look, it's very simple.
What I need is for you to help me catch Alexandra.
You gain her confidence.
So that we can get proof
that John Jairo is trafficking from inside the prison.
If you help me with that...
I can have your record cleared.
So, what you mean is that...
now you want me to become, what?
A super spy?
I don't have anything to do with her life, or your world,
or their world. It has nothing to do with me.
But the question is, what if I refuse?
Then what happens?
You'll rot in jail.