Original subtitles

[Cecilia] Silver, rested, and aged.

Each one with its flaws and virtues.

Silver tequila is young.

Some find it immature,

while others find it pure.

The aging process has distanced rested tequila from its source,

but deep down

it retains its essence.

[Cecilia] The wait has been long for the aged tequila,

but it has developed its own identity.

Some claim that so many years spent in the barrel...

have made it impure,

far from the agave from which it was born.

But which one is the best?

All three are excellent.

My compliments to the master tequilier.

Dear sister-in-law...

you don't have to carry the burden of making this decision alone.

In any case, I'm here to help with anything you need,

as always.

That's what family is for.

You knew Fausto better than anyone...

except for me.

I'll never understand why he thrust this choice on me.

But I won't entrust his last wish to anyone else.

[alarm bell ringing]

A NETFLIX ORIGINAL PRODUCTION

[Bernardo] The explosives were hidden in boxes.

How much did we lose?

Twenty percent of the tequila in storage,

the warehouse and a cargo truck.

$30 million dollars.

And, sadly, one of the drivers who was killed in the explosion.

Leave us alone.

Joaquín, we need to make a decision.

We, the partners, need to talk first. Leave us alone.

The cartel who killed Dad is responsible for this.

How can you be so sure?

If the cartel did it, we can't stick our noses in this.

On the contrary, we need to file a police report.

The only way to stop this is to do things like before.

With dirty dealings?

No, with balloons and confetti.

[Joaquín] We must pay the system to protect us.

From the system itself, the cartel?

From anyone. That's how things are done in this country.

That's not your call to make, Joaquín.

Where is she going?

Bernardo, what else can you say about the explosion?

[Bernardo] Not much.

Your mother asked me to go to Jalisco tomorrow

to save the rest of the tequila.

Forget the tequila.

[Andrés] Our tequila and hotels keep this company afloat.

Joaquín, we'll soon be in breach of several distribution contracts.

If we get sued, we're fucked.

Trying to fix this with tequila

is like putting a band-aid over a vampire bite, goddammit.

The only way to save Monarca from bankruptcy

is with the Los Zapotes Highway.

Laborde has shut down that project.

I'm sorting that out.

Why can't you understand that Dad didn't want any more dirty deals, Joaquín?

Dad wrote the book on how things are done in this country.

Yeah, several volumes.

His senile, rewritten will

doesn't mean you can judge us.

He changed it because he saw you.

He saw how you had turned into scum.

That's why he called me here.

Wait, you're not the CEO, and neither are you.

We're not here to argue, we're here to decide what to do.

[Joaquín] Go fuck yourselves.

CARTELS IN JALISCO, MEXICO

[cell phone ringing]

-Fermín. -[Fermín] Ana María?

I know it's not the best time after the warehouse explosion,

but I just found the watchman you wanted me to find.

Where?

He was about to cross the border into the United States.

He was terrified.

But I talked him into staying so you could talk to him.

I could meet him and give you a call.

No, I'd rather talk to him in person.

I'll be there in Tequila today.

[engine idling]

[Ana María] Thanks for waiting.

[Bernardo] It's your plane after all.

-Hello. -Hello.

We should talk.

I told you over the phone, I have meetings all day.

Just five minutes.

-[Joaquín] Why did you retract the loan? -[woman] It wasn't me.

It was my bosses.

Your father's death made them uneasy.

That, and the fact that you weren't appointed CEO.

It's a matter of time. That's all.

If you don't give me the money, I can't give it to Laborde,

and I can't restart the construction, got it?

[woman] I get it,

but even with these "off the record" loans...

-[Joaquín] Mm-hmm. -...the bank needs collateral.

What better collateral than my word?

Don't tell me you're the sentimental type. Hmm?

[inhales deeply] Monarca's equity shares are better collateral.

But, then again...

only the CEO can authorize those.

[Bernardo] To be completely honest,

Joaquín has a point.

The revenue from the Los Zapotes Highway could save us.

[Ana María] Answer me this:

What pops into your mind first when you think about Monarca?

Tequila.

Why?

That's where it all started.

Highways and bridges are only about money.

-[Ana María] Exactly. -They're off brand.

The value of the distillery lies on public perception.

We may be crumbling inside, but on the outside,

if we get this tequila to where it needs to be,

Monarca Corp. will be stronger than ever.

[laughs] You sound like your father.

[laughs]

Do you know what he gave me when I turned 11?

A garden hoe.

Not a bicycle, not a doll, a seriously sharp garden hoe!

And he made me carry an agave heart this big.

[Ana María] I put it in the oven all by myself.

And he said...

"When this agave heart turns into tequila...

you'll be 18 years old and we'll drink it together."

[laughs]

But you left before that.

[laughs]

[Cecilia] Any progress with Laborde?

If he and I don't reach a deal,

we'll lose this bid and every other deal in this administration.

[Cecilia] Laborde is an ingrate.

Your dad should never have recommended him to the president.

Mom, why haven't you decided yet?

[Joaquín] You know the company would thrive under my management.

Son...

I know this decision is mine to make,

but I can't simply ignore your father's wishes.

[Joaquín grumbles]

Listen, Mom...

You're not choosing your favorite child,

you're choosing

the CEO that Monarca needs.

Hmm?

I'll sort things out with Laborde,

and I'm going to restart construction,

so there's no doubt in your mind, all right?

I'm leaving now.

[Andrés] Isn't it a little early to start brown-nosing?

Or maybe I'm late, since you're leaving.

You have some parsley stuck in your teeth.

Have you been walking around like this all day?

Doesn't your "Hound" look after you?

Asshole.

Are we still monitoring Laborde?

House and cell phone.

Did you find out if there's anything we can offer him?

You asked me for three days...

and I gave them to you.

And then you promised me a gilded age for Monarca.

And I'm sorry...

but you're not on the throne.

It's very simple.

You restart construction, I take over as CEO of Monarca...

and I'll make sure you get your cut.

Again, you're giving me your word.

And a gesture of good will.

Sierra Gorda Street, Number 115.

How do you know that address?

How long has your wife been trying to buy that house?

[Laborde] Forget it.

-The owner won't sell. -What if I get it for you?

What are you looking at?

[Andrés] So handsome!

How old were you when you got married?

I was 19.

So, when did you...?

-[Andrés] You... -[Cecilia] What?

Have sex, Mother?

We got married eight months after we met.

Oh, so a shotgun wedding?

Stop it.

Let's go out.

Let's go see how nice the hotel is.

The Markowitz that you wanted is being installed today.

How's it going?

Let's see for ourselves.

[sighs]

That's a yes.

It weighs over four tons.

It will be suspended from steel cables.

[Andrés] Here in the middle of this courtyard,

all the way up there.

Each floor will have a view of a different detail of the sculpture.

This is lovely, son.

Your dad would be proud of you.

Also, I thought we could pay homage to Dad.

How so?

-Imagine a reserve aged tequila... -Mm-hmm.

-A special, limited edition version. -Mm-hmm.

We would call it...

Boys, give us some room, please.

"Don Fausto - 100 years".

-[Cecilia gasps] -We'd need a nice bottle.

We could ask Ilán to design it.

I think it's a wonderful idea.

Wonderful!

Seen that?

GET OUT, MONARCAS

I'll go talk to the insurance people, OK?

You said you'd be here and you meant it.

Where's the wife of the driver who was killed?

[Fermín] There she is.

Let's go.

Ma'am, I'm Ana María Carranza. What is your name?

Adela Velásquez.

Adela, I'm sorry for your loss.

We'll find out what happened.

You were well aware of it and you did nothing!

Will you bring my husband back to life?

I promise we'll get to the bottom of this.

-You promise! What do you promise? -Mrs. Adela...

-Anita, wait in the office. -[Adela] I'm holding you responsible...

for the death of my husband, you hear? Forever!

[still arguing outside]

[Adela] The Carranzas are responsible for my husband's death!

[shouting] Don't touch me! Get off me!

We must pay for her husband's funeral expenses, Fermín.

In full.

I'll handle it, Anita.

Whose sign is that?

[Fermín] The Bajio Cartel.

In the past...

we paid them to use their roads.

Monarca paid the cartel?

Until your father had enough,

and stopped paying.

[grunting]

[Fermín] Soon after that, the cartel sent us a message.

[Fermín] Fortunately, the boy lived,

but the drivers refused to drive down those roads,

so what we've been doing

is filling up the warehouses.

The cartel knows, and that's why they blew up the tequila we had stored.

The insurance claim is moving forward.

Is the insurance covering all this?

You dad had increased our coverage to include even malicious attacks.

If Dad anticipated all this,

he must have had a plan.

Your dad knew that the system would turn against him,

so he tried to rally politicians and business owners--

And each one of those bastards turned their backs on him!

How does the cartel come into this?

[Fermín] Running a business here

requires us to deal with the cartel and politicians.

There must be another way to move our tequila.

Come here. Take a look at this.

[Fermín] Look. We're located right here.

This entire area,

all the way down here, including all the roads,

belongs to Emilio Palafox.

That is, the Bajio Cartel.

But he doesn't control these roads.

[Fermín] No, but our distribution centers are nowhere near this area.

[Ana María] What is this?

That's a regional airport, San Sebastián del Oeste.

If we can't drive the tequila, how about we fly it?

We could rent cargo planes.

I'm not sure, Ana María. That wouldn't be cheap.

It's definitely cheaper than losing warehouses

and distribution contracts.

Fermín...

who do we see about getting those permits?

[laughing] We'd have to deal with the San Sebastián delegate.

-[Fermín] This guy, he's corrupt-- -We'll do it, Fermín.

-Good morning. -Good morning.

I'm here to see Delegate Flores.

Last door on the right.

Thank you.

[Ana María] You'll find that all the documents are in order.

[man] Yes, yes.

Everything looks good.

But...

But?

Permits like this one are hard to get.

The airport isn't used to receiving cargo planes.

-But it is able to. -[Flores] Of course.

But in any case, it will require a thorough inspection.

Look...

This seems like an urgent matter...

so I'll make an exception.

As long as you and I can come to an arrangement.

So, that's your position,

Delegate Flores?

Do you know how much I love you?

Are you OK? [laughing]

Of course.

I'm so proud of you.

You're a wonderful lawyer, and you're doing great.

I know you want a larger role, so I have a job for you.

Are you interested?

Yes?

Was that a yes?

Yes! Yes, sir.

It's here. This one.

Can you stop here, please?

[Lourdes] Thank you, Javier.

[buzzer]

[woman] Ah...

Mrs. Guadalupe Briseño?

If it's about the house, I told you it's not for sale.

No, I'm Erica Morales and I work for a film studio.

We'd like to rent your house to shoot here for a couple of days.

We pay 100,000 pesos per day.

All right, come in.

Thank you.

[Guadalupe] My husband was a doctor.

He looked after this house as if it were a patient.

And now I look after it.

[Lourdes] All by yourself?

[Guadalupe] Yes, I can't afford to hire anyone else.

[Lourdes] Ma'am...

-Are you sure you won't sell it? -No.

She doesn't want to sell it.

Even though it's a big house and they clearly need the money, but--

It should be easy to convince her, then.

I must confess, I don't work for a film studio.

My Alberto lived and died here. This is his house, so get out!

I understand, but please let me make you an offer.

No, miss.

Or maybe we should leave her alone.

What about the son? Tell me about him.

[man] Mom, I'm home.

[door slams shut]

That's my son. Don't mention anything

about buying the house in front of him, please.

[Lourdes] No, no.

[man] Who's this?

[Guadalupe] They want to shoot a film here.

How much do you pay?

100,000 pesos per day.

-Make it cash. Deal? -Deal.

She was just leaving, son.

I'm watching the soccer, Mom.

So please don't fucking interrupt me.

He's a total leech.

So he's waiting for her to die so he can keep everything?

-[Lourdes] Mm-hmm. -Very clever.

I'm sorry... that I couldn't get you the house.

But these are another ten options,

which are nicer and cheaper.

I'm sorry.

-Stop saying you're sorry. -[Lourdes] Let me know.

I'll let you know.

[Lourdes] Thank you, Dad.

Hound...

call me ASAP.

-[Hound] Sir? -What do you have for me?

We're at the government palace.

-Why are you there? -I don't know.

We came straight from the precinct.

[Ana María] How are you, sweetie?

-How's everything there? -[Camila] I'm fine, Mom.

My dad on the other hand...

Cam, don't worry about him.

[Ana María] I have to be here.

-He'll understand eventually. -Hey...

[Camila] Are you gonna run Monarca?

That's not my decision to make.

But if you did...

it would be pretty cool.

I have to go.

I love you.

I'm proud of you, Mom.

[sighs]

[Ana María] I know you're busy, Pilar.

-[Ana María] I'm sorry to bother you. -Please, don't worry.

But please explain, because I don't understand what you want me to do.

I need your help to get a permit to use a local airport.

You need my help?

[Ana María] It's all perfectly legal.

Ana María, the work we do here is not about getting permits.

Just because I attended your father's funeral or your last name is Carranza

doesn't mean I'll extend courtesies to help you run your business.

This isn't about you giving any courtesies or doing me any favors.

[Ana María] I went to see Delegate Flores.

I submitted the application requesting the permit, and he denied it to me.

That's too bad.

He wanted money to do his job.

That's why I'm here.

Look, Pilar, I'm not like them.

And something tells me you're not either.

So tell me, what should I do?

Get me Delegate Flores on the line.

[man] Cecilia, you know we don't need to be in the confessional in order to talk.

I've known you for almost ten years now.

I know when something's bothering you.

I have to make a decision.

And this decision involves who?

My children.

[Cecilia] Fausto asked me to choose his successor,

but I don't think the changes that he wanted to implement

are what Monarca needs.

What does Monarca need?

Someone who knows the company.

[Cecilia] A true leader.

[priest] Or someone kind-hearted, someone loyal.

Someone like Andrés.

Sorry, I didn't mean to overstep the mark.

All I know is that he's the only one who came here today.

People love him.

Bernardo, tell Fermín to load all the tequila into the trucks.

What happened?

[crowd] Murderers! Murderers!

[crowd] Murderers!

[man] Ana María!

Ana María!

[crowd shouting]

Let him go! Alberto, let him through.

I'm fine.

What is it, Rubén?

[sighs] I wanted you to know that even if you destroy my life,

I'll keep doing my work.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Is it a coincidence that I got fired after I talked to you?

You got fired from the newspaper?

For talking to you.

[man] If you don't meet our demands,

not a single one of my men

will drive Monarca's trucks.

[Fermín] Raymundo, be reasonable, please.

Reasonable?

Reasonable like those who blew up the warehouse?

Like those who killed Vicente?

Mr. Martínez, I'm Ana María Carranza.

Fausto Carranza's daughter.

Why don't you tell me what it is you need?

We want things to go back to the way they were.

So do I, but things have changed and there's no turning back.

Life insurance for each one of my men.

They risk their lives

driving across cartel-controlled areas, transporting your tequila.

The drivers aren't insured?

We pay employer contributions. As well as basic benefits.

How can we make a living?

We lost one of ours today.

Your responsibility, and our duty,

is to protect his family, and the families of all our drivers.

[Bernardo] Mr. Raymundo, I feel your pain.

That's precisely why we'll keep paying salaries during the strike.

That's also why we pay social security benefits so that you'll be protected.

[Fermín] Bernardo, please...

Mr. Martínez, give us a second, please.

Yes, ma'am.

[Bernardo] Sorry.

I really am.

[Bernardo] Life insurance for all our employees is financially unsound.

[Fermín] But it's only for the drivers!

[Bernardo] Only the drivers? And then what?

[Bernardo] The problem is we don't have the money.

I need to speak with him alone.

[Ana María] Please.

[Ana María] Mr. Martínez, you're a leader to many who work at Monarca.

You earned that position because people trust you, right?

That's right, ma'am.

My father also earned his people's trust.

He made many mistakes.

But there's one thing he never broke...

His word.

If you get our tequila to the airport,

staying clear of the cartel's roads,

I'll find a way to get life insurance for you and your drivers.

Look.

This is the ring my father wore since the day he founded Monarca.

It's my family's ring.

When I manage to get you everything you deserve,

I'll come back for it.

[Cecilia] She swayed the union?

[Fermín] We're loading the tequila now.

Thanks for telling me, Fermín.

[Fermín] Goodbye.

MONARCA FOUNDATION

[Fermín] Chava... this is Ana María Carranza.

Don Fausto's daughter.

I'm very sorry this happened to you, Chava.

Were you there on the night my father was killed?

Yes, ma'am.

And that same night you spoke to Joaquín...

my brother?

Yes, ma'am.

What did you tell him?

I immediately told him I hadn't seen anyone.

I swear on my mother's life I didn't see anything.

That's the truth.

I only heard gunshots.

Then I called the police, that's all.

But your brother wouldn't believe me.

So, it was my brother who did this to you?

[Chava] No.

[Chava] You know what?

I don't want any trouble.

[Chava] Please leave.

[Fermín] Listen, sweetie...

I may be old, but I'm no fool.

What are we doing here?

My father was murdered, Fermín.

What?

We said it was a heart attack to protect the family, but...

the way they killed him...

He was butchered.

And they didn't even leave a message.

No banners, nothing.

[Fermín] If it wasn't the cartel...

then who did it?

[grunting]

[grunting]

[Joaquín] Hold on.

[Joaquín] What is it?

The lady doesn't have much money, but she has no debts either.

Her taxes are in order. She's a dead end.

What about the son?

Unemployed.

Kicked out of school for fighting and he has a few assault charges.

For fighting?

[man] Pass it. Pass it, pass it!

Hmm.

-[man] Get me another. -What a shit team.

That team is like Santa Claus. You know why, asshole?

Why's that, ass-wipe?

Because only kids and fools believe in it.

Shut your fucking mouth, you son of a bitch!

[man] Stop pushing me! Loosen the handcuffs.

Be careful, he has a gun in his car.

-[police] Check the car. -[man] Go ahead.

Gun in the car, sir!

No way! No way! You framed me, bastard!

Here we are.

Thank you.

-[Andrés] Mwah! -[Cecilia chuckles]

-Tell me, son... -[Andrés] Mm-hmm.

What do you want?

Do you want Monarca?

Yes.

In that case...

stop manipulating me.

Oh, and...

I'll talk to the Archbishop tomorrow

to have Father Norberto sent to some parish in the mountains.

[Cecilia] I no longer trust him.

[Andrés] Mom... I don't know what the hell the priest told you,

but this is my job.

The foundation is my job.

I'm sorry for taking you out and having some fun.

If that's me manipulating you... [laughs]

...then I'm sorry, Mom. Good night.

[closes electric window]

-[engine starts] -[Andrés sighs]

[engine roars]

What did you tell the priest?

About what?

What did you ask him to tell Mom?

The truth.

[sighs]

You just ruined everything. Mom saw right through it.

-How? -[Andrés] How?

-[Andrés] She's no fool, Ximena! -What did you tell her?

What could I say? What should I have said?

You could feign ignorance!

So, you wanted me to try to fool her again?

So, are you giving up just like that?

This is want we wanted, Andrés.

-No, no. No, dear, this is what you want. -Oh, me?

All this is what you want. The house, the car,

the trips, the clothes, but it's not enough!

You went behind my back and did what you wanted.

You went behind my back!

And what did you accomplish?

I lost the CEO job. I lost it because of you!

Mrs. Guadalupe?

Er... No, I'm not busy. Go ahead.

Of course, I'm still interested. No, there's no need.

[Joaquín, quietly] ...if they ask you. OK.

[Joaquín] Good work, Hound.

[Joaquín] What is it?

The lady from the house just called me. Turns out she wants to sell it!

Really?

Her son's in jail on assault charges.

And since the bail was set at three million pesos...

-It's fate. -It's fate!

[Lourdes laughs]

Hey, what happened to Hound?

He got mugged, can you believe that?

I mean, look at his size.

-[Joaquín] I have to go. -OK.

[elevator bell rings]

MONARCA CORP.

[Ana María] Bernardo?

Yes?

There's a reporter from Guadalajara, Rubén Cabrera.

Could you call his editor

and, as a personal favor, ask him to hire Rubén back?

[Bernardo] Sure. I'll handle it.

What's this?

A small gift for all you did yesterday.

[Bernardo] This isn't just any aged tequila.

It's from a special reserve from 1989.

Back then, you were 11 years old.

I can't guarantee that the agave heart you cut with your dad

made it into this bottle, but...

But maybe it did.

Maybe it did.

Thank you.

No, wait. You don't have to open it now.

[Ana María] Why not?

Life is short.

[laughs]

To your father.

[Laborde laughs]

You worked very hard yesterday.

I felt useful.

Only useful?

I felt like part of the family.

[Cecilia] You've always been part of the family.

Despite our differences.

I know that, Mom.

There's nothing more important than family.

Us women must work hard to keep our family together.

Martin, Rodrigo and Camila, they're your family.

You should be with them.

It's time to go back.

I appreciate what you've done,

but I wanted to tell you this in person.

Joaquín managed to restart the construction project.

He saved the company.

I'm appointing him CEO of Monarca.

And how do you think he managed such a feat, Mom?

The way your father taught him.

Be careful.

Don't make your brother into a devil. Remember that.

I don't know if he's the devil, but he's lost.

He can't do things right.

Dear!

Why can't you see it, Mom?

I know perfectly well

what your father was doing, and it cost him his life!

You don't know what Joaquín is capable of doing.

He's blinded by his ambition.

What about your blindness,

when you abandoned your family?

That was 24 years ago, Mom!

It doesn't matter how long ago it was.

Well, now I'm here.

I won't sit back and do nothing.

I see the same determination in your eyes as your dad's...

and it scares me.

[Ana María sighs]

When he asked me to come back, I thought we'd finally make peace.

[Ana María] And now he's dead, Mom...

because he tried to do things right.

You said it yourself. It was his mission.

If I don't finish what he started, he will have died for nothing.

But I understand.

It's your decision.

[sighs]

[sighs]

[cell phone ringing]

[cell phone ringing]

[cell phone ringing]

Mom?

[Cecilia] Listen to me.

Your father and I didn't always agree on everything.

I think that Joaquín deserves to be the CEO of Monarca...

because that's what he's worked his whole life for.

But you were also right.

[Cecilia] Your father was a dreamer...

and I can't take away his last dream.

[inhales deeply]

If you think you can do it...

Monarca is yours.

Upon one condition...

You have to keep the family together.

That's all I ask for.

Good night, my dear.

[Martin] Hey.

[Ana María] Hey.

I'm sorry.

I should have told you how he died.

I should have talked about his will.

[Martin] I should have been more supportive.

I should have considered, you know, how you were feeling.

I just heard from my mom.

[Martin] And?

She offered me Monarca.

And I said yes.

Congratulations.

[Martin] It's what you wanted.

So...

where does that leave us?

[cocks hammer]

Subtitle translation by Jonathan Hemming