Original subtitles

NETFLIX PRESENTS

- (DOOR SLAMS) - MAN: This is the police!

- WOMAN: What's going on? - MAN: Out of the building. Go downstairs.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

MAN 2: Police!

MAN: Everyone, vacate the building! Vacate the building immediately!

MAN 2: Please, sir, we don't have time.

MAN: Everyone, move!

MAN 2: Take the stairs. Do not take the elevator.

Take the stairs. Let's go.

(DOG BARKING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

MAN: Just take the stairs.

Get out of the building.

Get out now! Go! Down the stairs! You need to get out of the building immediately.

- MAN 2: Ma'am, go down the stairs. - WOMAN 2: Can you tell me anything?

WOMAN: What's going on?

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

Galiardo here. Moving to secure third floor.

MAN 3 ON RADIO: Move please. You need to vacate the building now! Hurry!

(WOMAN SCREAMING)

- (COUGHS) - Are you all right? Can you walk?

Hey, take her downstairs.

(BOTH COUGHING)

My husband. Please, my husband!

He's still inside! Help him! My husband!

- You have to help him. - (RADIO BEEPS)

We still got people inside. I gotta go back in.

MAN 4 ON RADIO: Get your ass back here! Let the firemen do that!

This building is coming down. You hear me?

You copy? Javier? Javier?

Javier, come in!

- Get the hell out of there! - (GRUNTING)

(GRUNTING)

(SCREAMING)

(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

HERO

CITY HALL POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDS MEDAL TO THE HERO OF CANILLEJAS

(MAN MUTTERING)

Okay.

Well…

Fuck.

Hurry up. You're gonna be late.

What else is new?

Jorge Elías!

(SIGHS) I don't know why I bother.

- (WALKIE-TALKIE BEEPS) - MAN: Cosme, do you copy?

I got something pretty wild for you.

- Copy, Ibarra. Send me the 20. - (WALKIE-TALKIE BEEPS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

(MAN 2 GROANING)

Hey, Dad?

DELIVERYMAN: Morning. You got a package.

Just try robbing me now, motherfuckers.

- I got the power! - (ZAPPING)

Hey, excuse me, kid, but you have to sign here.

Sure.

Thank you.

- These the only flashlights you have? - SHOPKEEPER: Yep.

They all this dirty?

- I'll take these. - (DOOR OPENS)

I was told you were here.

Inspector Cosme Galiardo.

Honor to work with you even if it's to replace you.

Don't worry. I'm getting used to it.

David Valentín, sir.

You don't have to call me sir. Let's go.

HONG GIFT SHOP

(INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER POLICE RADIO)

So what's going on here?

Something stinks like a dead dog inside.

There's no lease on the place, no water, no power. Nothing.

Neighbor called in complaining about the noise.

She said he lifted weights all night.

(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

Gluten-free dough.

Protein powder.

Steroids.

Vitamins.

Zinc, magnesium.

Looks like we got a psycho bodybuilder.

(GRUNTS)

(COUGHS)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

- What the hell happened here? - COSME: Not a clue.

DAVID: What's with his skin? The light causing that?

No, no, it's not the light. His skin is gray.

But it sure doesn't look like he died of natural causes.

- Smells like shit. - Yeah.

(GAGS)

(GAGGING, VOMITING)

- You all right over there? - Fucking disgusting!

(GAGS)

My favorite suit.

(COUGHS)

COSME: Here.

Thanks.

Mmm.

There were no laundromats in my day.

I could've used them too.

Wife died when I was young.

Had to figure out shit on my own. Brought up two kids alone.

And you, you married?

Spend most of my time trying to make inspector. Never had time for women.

- Hmm. - Good sandwich.

First thing you gotta learn in Homicide, where to get the best street food.

- Mind if I ask you a personal question? - Shoot.

So what made you become a cop anyway?

- Why do you ask? - I read your file.

Everyone automatically assumes I became a cop because my parents were murdered,

that I'm looking for justice or revenge.

But it's 'cause I wanna do what people expect of me.

I just want to do the right thing, not let them all down.

- Probably sounds really stupid to you. - No, I don't think it does.

In my opinion, the best cops are the ones

with that stupid sense of duty you're talking about.

The angry ones never seem to make it.

Here, look. Check it out.

Found it at the bodybuilder's place.

DAVID: A prescription for Balbino Blázquez.

COSME: Did some digging.

He was reported missing a year ago.

But he left us a clue.

David, looks like our Blázquez was a physics professor

and that he was working with Brussels on an EU smart-energy program.

Look at this.

- DAVID: Skinny runt. - COSME: Yep.

His skin color looks normal, so why was it gray?

My guess is only the killer knows that for sure.

Homicide?

I'll tell you this, if it's not a homicide, I'm the Duchess of Alba.

(SAW HUMMING)

COSME: Bruguera.

Oh, man!

(BOTH CHUCKLING)

Would you look who's here?

How the hell are you?

Come here, you old fart. I thought you left without saying goodbye.

- I don't get a hug? - No, listen...

Give me a hug.

Let me introduce you to David Valentín. He's really heading the case.

You're the one who puked his guts out when you saw the shit pile, right?

- That's me. - Try not to ralph on me, all right?

Sorry, no promises.

So whenever you come here, make sure you skip breakfast.

This morning we got the torso of a six-year-old girl.

Right, Federico?

Some kid raped her, dismembered her,

then decapitated her and refused to tell us where he hid the rest of the body.

Lovely, right? And since he's a minor, he'll never set foot in prison.

Three years in juvie and he's out. What a beautiful world.

So what can you tell us about our bodybuilder?

Oh!

A lot.

Over here.

So his body had a piñata full of goodies in it.

He was taking a bunch of steroids and a myriad of other illicit substances

to build this obscene muscle mass.

See these stretch marks here?

The muscle growth happened so fast his skin just couldn't keep up with it.

The cause of death?

Compressed trachea from a violent impact. Whack!

Looks like the bar was right here when his wrists blew

and he dropped the weights. And he also has some internal muscular tearing,

which tells me the guy was doing reps over and over

and for quite a long time too.

So why is he gray?

Uh-huh.

At first, I thought it was primarily from a case of peritonitis

or lack of exposure to sunlight.

But then I found these subcutaneous pigments,

which involves an extremely complex and specific process.

- So... - COSME: Hang on.

So, the killer wanted his skin to turn gray, right?

Bingo.

Cosme, wanna tell me what the fuck you're doing?

- Here we go. - Again?

- BRUGUERA: Love the outfit. - WOMAN: Stay out of this.

- Who is this psychopath? - Your boss.

Say what?

Graduated top of her class at the academy and is Madrid's youngest head of Homicide.

Why is she dressed like that?

Maybe I was in the middle of cosplay in my free time,

and Jessica fucking Fletcher over here

just ruined my entire goddamn day.

And maybe that's the reason I'm so bloody pissed off?

So who's feeding you info, Cosme? Ibarra? Tell me.

Well, I just figured I'd help out Inspector Valentín.

- Your retirement's in the works. - Are you forcing him to retire?

His experience would help me out on the job.

Come pick up all your stuff tomorrow.

Are we clear on that? Well?

And you, let me give you a little bit of a tip right now.

I'm a pretty cool boss, all right?

But don't try pushing my buttons because you might hit the wrong one.

(DOOR SLAMS)

COSME: Jorge!

Boy, when the food's on the table, you really move your butt, don't you?

(SOUND EFFECTS PLAYING ON TV)

Uh, why are you in your pajamas? You gotta take out the garbage.

It's not pajamas. This is a shirt.

- (MAN SPEAKING JAPANESE ON TV) - Ah, okay. I didn't know that.

At least I'm not dressed up like a lawyer like you.

(GROANS)

What was it Mom said when you went to the station?

"Put on your suit and go out there and make the world a better place."

(SCOFFS) That's so corny.

It's not corny at all.

And Javi liked it.

I know, Dad. My brother was a Gryffindor, and I'm a Slytherin.

- Get used to it. - Whatever.

All right, can you pass me the bread, please?

That's it. That's it.

Keep it up. You got it. Keep going.

- Okay. Now, remember… - (PHONE RINGS)

A left then right. Hit him hard.

(PHONE BEEPS)

- (WOMAN GRUNTS) - Yeah?

No, I'm having dinner with friends. Why?

I'll be right there. What's the address?

(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

(CAMERA CLICKING)

I said not to move the body till I got here.

No, we haven't moved anything, Inspector.

This stretcher is part of the crime scene, it seems.

DAVID: What is this?

I don't even know what I'm looking at. What the hell's he got on?

The victim sold weapons to collectors on the Internet.

Looks like it included armor, katanas, that kind of thing.

Well, somebody was an unhappy customer.

Got anything for me?

A magazine clipping, found on the back of the victim's neck.

Get it analyzed.

(SPEAKING JAPANESE)

Jorge, clean this up. I need to free up the table.

(SIGHS)

(MAN CONTINUES IN JAPANESE ON TV)

- Holy shit! - COSME: What?

JORGE: Who's this?

- Looks like the Hulk. - You think so?

- I thought the Hulk was green. - JORGE: Not at the beginning.

In the first issue, Hulk was gray.

- Really? - JORGE: Yeah.

It happened a lot in the '60s.

The colorist would get mixed up or color it any old way.

Or Stan Lee'd change his mind from one to another. Same with Iron Man.

At first, in Tales of Suspense #39,

his suit is gray.

And in the next, it's gold.

Makes no sense.

- Too bad. - What's wrong?

- It's just a shame. - What is?

With your memory, you could've had a good, solid job in government.

(SIGHS)

Anyway…

NATIONAL POLICE

All right, just sign here.

Don't look at me like I just took away your favorite toy. Just sign it.

And clearly, you're a smart enough cop

to know that they've organized a surprise party upstairs just for you.

And I'm deliberately hiding from said party.

I'm not going upstairs until everybody's gone.

(LAUGHING)

Ah, shit, Cosme.

You can be even more infantile than Jorge.

I doubt it.

He said you can help him out in the store now that you're retired.

That's a load of crap, like most of what he says.

I don't know anything about comics.

The only one I can remember is The Masked Warrior.

Yeah.

Here.

- How are you? - Retired.

(SCOFFS)

What's that?

What?

Oh, that. Some guy gets his jollies ripping out hearts.

Jack the Ripper wannabe.

Look, according to Bruguera, he was kept alive for hours

with some kind of transplant machine. Freaky, huh?

Well, what about this here?

Um, we're not sure. It's an old magazine clipping

found on the scene. We don't know what it means.

- Is it okay if I...? - Well, no.

But since you always do whatever the fuck you want, go on, take it.

Thanks, Norma.

EVIDENCE

This isn't from a magazine.

Secret origins.

(EXHALES)

(MUSICAL RINGTONE PLAYING)

- Hey, Dad, how's the party? - COSME: Fine.

- Listen up for a sec. - JORGE: Is there cake?

Save me a piece. You know I love chocolate cake.

COSME: Just listen to me for a minute.

Do you remember which collection the Incredible Hulk first appeared in?

JORGE: Incredible Hulk #1. Why?

Dad?

Can you hear me? Incredible Hulk #1.

(CONTINUES SPEAKING OVER PHONE INDISTINCTLY)

(CRUNCHING LOUDLY)

What?

Do you have to chew so loudly?

(CONTINUES CRUNCHING LOUDLY)

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

BURPS:

- Do you mind? - Yeah, I do.

COSME: In the first murder, the killer recreated a comic, The Hulk.

This guy turned a skinny little scientist

into a huge, gray, muscular beast,

exactly what happens in the comic, The Incredible Hulk #1.

In the second murder, he recreated another comic, Iron Man.

He turned a weapons maker

into an armor-clad man that needed a machine

to make his heart function.

Exactly what happens in the comic book Tales of Suspense #39.

So we're dealing with a geek.

Inspector Valentín, given your astounding ignorance of the subject,

we thought that, for this case, it would be best to bring in some outside help.

Seriously? He's basing his killings on comic books.

What if the next murder is based on a cheesy pop song? Who you gonna bring in?

You said it would be helpful to have someone with experience in the field.

- Yeah, but I was referring to someone... - Well, here he is.

We think this guy's knowledge of comics could help us prevent more murders.

And he's also been helping us since the beginning of the investigation.

Valentín…

- Give that back to me! - No way, it's mine!

- I said, give it back! - Hey!

Hands behind your back!

You're under arrest for stealing evidence.

- JORGE: No... - Shut up!

- What is this? - It's cake.

I was gonna eat it outside, so I didn't leave any crumbs.

Norma, thanks for saving me a piece.

- Uh, David, I'd like you to meet Jorge. - He's your new partner.

That's my dad.

All right, let's start over. Jorge Elías.

Inspector Valentín.

Right. Can I call you Val?

- No. - But it sounds so cool.

- Want me to call you Jor? - Totally cool.

- I'm not calling you Jor. - It's totally cool.

- Do me a favor and stop saying that. - You got it, Val.

So what's your theory anyway?

On the first note, the killer wrote "secret origins."

Just so you know, that's what the genesis of superheroes is called,

or how they go to be what they are today.

I studied philosophy, not criminology,

but from his whole modus operandi, it seems pretty obvious, to me anyway,

that the killer recreates superhero origin stories.

Who knows why. Ah, what are you doing?

Your glasses are disgusting.

I don't know how you see out these things.

Here. Give them a wipe every now and then.

Eh, thanks a lot, Val.

Oh, one more thing.

- When do I get my badge? - You got a special pass.

- It doesn't look as cool as a real badge. - It's just as good, all right?

Yeah, it's just not as cool.

Don't touch that.

- What are these, child locks? - Don't touch.

I don't know what you want me to do.

You're supposed to be the expert. See if something doesn't look right.

Maybe there's something they missed.

Work your magic.

Yeah, okay, no pressure.

Antxon Azkar, the Suspense #39 victim. I don't know if you know all this.

Born in Bilbao. He had a weapons factory in Toledo.

But not the same kind of weapons as Tony Stark.

This guy made replicas of movie weapons, right?

- Weapons for collectors? - Yeah.

See, that over there is a replica of Conan's sword.

There's the katanas from Kill Bill. Hattori Hanzō.

(MIMICS SLICING)

There's the ax from Sleepy Hollow.

And then, of course, there's Ice,

Ned Stark's sword from Game of Thrones.

Mmm, but it was only called Ice in the books. The books are always better.

I sell a lot of these beauties in my store.

Like that Leonidas thing. Quality stuff.

Hold on a minute.

Something's not right.

What is it?

That ax.

Everything is from Lord of the Rings except the ax.

Are you sure?

Yes. Unless Peter Jackson has some never-before-seen footage

he's saving for a director's cut. Then yes, I'm sure.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

- Can I hold it? - Don't touch it.

BRUGUERA: This is the fourth clear print I've found.

It's almost like it was put there on purpose.

It's really crazy. Killers don't usually sign their handiwork.

They're evil, but they're not stupid.

This whole concept of evil… These guys are just sick.

(LAUGHS) That's a good one. Why don't you go get some fresh air?

What about the results?

You think this is CSI? You just put in the prints and presto?

The program takes a while to come up with the right match. Be patient.

Isn't there somewhere else you wanna be?

That I want? Not really.

(SPANISH HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

MAN: It's true. Dumbledore and Grindelwald fucked.

I swear on the grave of Lily Potter.

- WOMAN: This one too? - WOMAN 2: Hey, how's it going?

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

(MUSIC STOPS ABRUPTLY)

- Val. - Fuck!

Sorry about that. Here, this is for you.

I spent the whole evening going through books

and choosing the origin stories that might help you.

You serious? Do you have any comics left?

What? I narrowed it way down. I eliminated anything to do with magic.

Both Doctor Strange, Doctor Fate.

Or anything to do with gods, like Wonder Woman or Thor.

Green Lantern? You think this is a possibility?

With a green ring and imagination…

NORMA: Oh, please, just shut up and listen.

I know that voice.

It's a multipurpose room.

Monday night is Magic. Friday is Warhammer.

- Today is cosplay. - What?

Cosplay. You dress up as anime characters.

Ah.

- Is that her? - Yes.

So she's a geek too?

NORMA: And with that, my magical mane and I conclude this class.

- You're shitting me. - Uh, uh.

Our anniversary party is Friday.

If you want any last-minute tips, let me know.

Most of these students are all thumbs. They can't even thread a needle properly.

So they always get her to finish their costumes for them.

She's raking it in.

And don't be like Felipe who calls me at the last minute and says,

"I just saw The Avengers. Make me a Scarlet Witch outfit."

- Hold this. - NORMA: Because I can't do it, honey.

-That's it for tonight, -Doing a bit of moonlighting?

Okay, guys, get out of here.

DAVID: So I don't get why you force me to work with Jorge,

when you're as much of an expert.

That's where you're wrong. I've never read a comic book in my life.

I only watch movies, anime series, and do cosplay.

Ah, I see. So for you, this is all totally normal.

Hang on a minute, I wanna see this.

To what do I owe the pleasure?

Why would you lower yourself to be among us geeks?

Let me guess, your hairdresser's around the corner?

Actually, my boss told me I was tragically ignorant,

so I came to learn about the geek world.

Your boss must be very happy.

You, on the other hand, appear not to be able to read.

You appear to be a little too old to be playing dress up.

Funny, I didn't make you out to be that much of an asshole.

Would you guys mind getting out of here?

And what's this getup?

What is it you're supposed to be? Is this the inner you screaming out,

"I wanna be in some '90s cop show, putting on some preppy-ass cop character?"

This is your costume, Inspector.

You're just as decked-out as the rest of us,

but with one small difference.

Your disguise is woeful.

Valar morghulis to you all, except the guy in the suit.

For him, it's dracarys.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Hey, shut your mouths! I'm here investigating a murder,

not a loser with no life and no job like all of you.

Uh, not so fast there, dude.

You see, Felipe here's a dentist, and Tony's a pharmacist.

Pepe has a bunch of properties. Isabel's a judge.

I don't know about this guy. He never buys anything.

I download it all off the Internet. I'm Galván.

I'm the owner and CEO of the largest aeronautical company in Madrid.

What I earn in one month would take you a year.

And, uh, look.

This is my car.

What car do you drive?

There you go.

(ALARM SOUNDING)

You gotta pay for those comic books, Val.

How much?

145 euros. On credit?

You gotta be out of your fucking mind.

Who's gonna pay that much for comic books?

- Losers who make a lot more than you do. - (ALL LAUGHING)

You were probably the cool kid at school who made fun of everyone, huh?

Dated the hottest girl.

Well, not here, dude. Sorry.

In my shop, the freak here is you.

You know something? You know fuck all about me.

(ALL LAUGHING)

A little respect. He's my partner. If you want to laugh at him, go buy something.

I download it all from the Internet.

(GRUNTS)

(GRUNTING)

WHITE THRUSH

(SIGHS)

That bad, huh?

It isn't by Bendis, I have no idea who he is,

but they love to bust his balls at the store.

What are you doing here?

Oh, dining alone?

You poor thing.

Why are you here?

Got a hit on the ax.

Just heard from Bruguera. Looks like we got a suspect.

Move your tush.

The guy's name is Jordi Forúm, a fireman with two priors for arson.

He started a fire in Galicia. Six people dead.

Son of a bitch convinced a jury it was negligence,

so he got away with six months inside.

He's not far from Del Retiro. Here are all the details.

I'll get over there when I'm done with the paperwork.

Now, don't forget to pick up Jorge.

JORGE: This is totally awesome, Val.

The hero and the sidekick on their way to the villain's lair.

All we need is a soundtrack.

- DAVID: Don't put that on the floor. - Why not?

Pick it up.

Ah!

Got it.

I haven't burned a CD in forever,

but since that's all you've got in your car, listen.

- ("BATMAN THEME" PLAYING) - (HUMMING TO MUSIC)

♪ Batman… ♪

- DAVID: Knock it off! - Chill out, Val.

You're aware that we're after a real killer?

- I think so. - DAVID: Then grow up!

I've had it with this comic book shit.

There are no superheroes, just books for overgrown kids.

Not all superheroes are for kids. Some are for adults. Have you heard of Watchmen?

I don't give a shit about Watchmen!

What would you say if you met a superhero anyway?

No, I'm serious, tell me. What would you say?

"Superman, I'm an adult with man boobs, and I wear T-shirts for eight-year-olds."

Fucking impressive.

- Why do you hate superheroes? - DAVID: I don't. And who gives a shit?

There comes a time when you got to tell kids,

The Three Wise Men aren't real. Santa Claus, not real.

And the Easter Bunny, not real either.

But nobody ever says to you, "Heroes don't exist."

Nobody can save the people you love. I learned that a long time ago.

That positive outlook made me real popular in school.

Fat kids aren't popular in school either.

I was a regular punching bag, until my brother came to school with me.

Then after he kicked their asses, they left me alone.

- You get along well with your brother? - JORGE: No.

He beat the shit out of three guys for looking at me sideways

then called me a useless lard-ass all the way home.

Isn't that what brothers do?

I don't know.

Never had one.

(CROWD CHATTERING)

Excuse me.

Officer, Inspector David Valentín. What's going on?

See that place? Smoke's been coming out of it for two days.

Now it's getting into the other units. We got a call to come check it out.

Looks like the windows...

- (EXPLOSION) - (ALL SCREAMING)

Ma'am, ma'am, please stay back. You have to stay back.

POLICE: Ma'am, please, I need you to stay back. Stay back. Stay back please.

(SIGHS)

What'd they say?

We gotta wait here until they get a warrant.

- Let me talk to them. - No, Jorge.

- Val. - What the hell? No, stop!

Special Agent Jorge Elías Galiardo.

- I need to get in there immediately. - Is that right?

Hey, wait a minute.

Galiardo?

You're the lard-ass.

- It's the lard-ass! - (LAUGHS)

- Agent Lard-ass! - Hey!

- Guys! - Yeah, what?

NORMA: Hey!

What's going on here? Anyone?

(SIGHS)

Norma Celiméndiz, Chief of Homicide.

Someone wanna tell me what's going on and why my men are still outside?

I explained to the inspector no one can enter without a warrant.

Yeah, you're right. This poor sap, he was just transferred here,

has no idea how things work yet.

(COCKS PISTOL)

Oh wow, look! The door's open!

MAN: Police!

- Come out with your hands up! - Move it!

- Move, move, move! - Clear!

Police!

- Move! - JORGE: Why is it so fucking cold?

OFFICER 1: Move it! Move!

In here!

Clear!

OFFICER 2: I can't see shit in here.

Fuck, it's cold!

MAN 2: Go, go, go, go!

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

- OFFICER 1: Come out with your hands up! - OFFICER 2: Let's go!

Shh, shh, shh.

(MAN 3 SCREAMING)

What the hell's that? Do you hear that?

- Yeah. - Where's it coming from?

(GLASS SHATTERS)

(GRUNTS)

- Can you get off me, please? - Sorry, yeah.

Real nice, Val. Protect the babe and forget all about the fat guy.

- DAVID: Shut up! - OFFICER: Easy.

It was just the temperature change that made them blow.

It's freezing as hell in here, and the motor on the fridge is burning up.

- Come on. - (SCREAMING CONTINUES)

Move.

DAVID: I've got something! Got something!

Jordi Fórum! You're under arrest

for the murders of Balbino Blázquez and Antxon Azkar!

We got a guy on fire here! Hurry! We have to break the glass!

Don't move! Hold on, we have to check the pressure inside.

Gotta make sure...

(GRUNTS)

- He didn't make it. - DAVID: Yeah, that's pretty obvious.

It's the Fire Man's origin story from the Fantastic Four.

(CLEARING THROAT) Human Torch.

DAVID: Jorge.

JORGE: Ah, yeah, that's Marvel Comics #1.

Human Torch origin story, but not as you know it.

This isn't the character from the Fantastic Four.

The classic Torch is an android who bursts into flames when contacting the air.

But he doesn't die because he's a robot and was never alive to begin with.

(SHOUTING)

(ALL SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)

- MAN: Let him go! - Jorge!

(GRUNTING)

He all right?

He's fine. He just fainted.

What the fuck is all this shit?

I'm done with this bullshit!

BRUGUERA: Dental records confirm it's Jordi Fórum.

Thank God for teeth.

Check this out.

Most of his skin is actually stuck to the suit

and peels away when you try to take it off.

Eh?

It's like peeling a grape.

- Look. - Oh, yeah.

Pretty gory like Gantz or Berserk.

Bruguera, can you tell me something I might understand?

In the extreme heat,

all of his bodily fluids actually started to boil.

His eyes look like they boiled right out of the sockets,

and he excreted gray matter from his nose and ears.

- (SNIFFLES) - And the suit?

Oh, right. The suit managed to keep his body refrigerated,

and he appears to have been fed and hydrated through tubes.

It's almost like he was conducting an experiment

to see how long he could stay alive under such extreme conditions.

How long did he last?

From what I can see from the burns and the lack of necrosis,

my best guess would be that he boiled alive

for about three days.

Simmering slowly.

(MIMICS BUBBLING NOISE)

Well…

All right then.

- So what now, inspector? - Well…

Hmm, I think I could try to track down the refrigeration equipment

or whatever the fuck that was. But I'm guessing Jordi Fórum

probably owned all this shit, leaving me fuck all to go on.

So I think I'm gonna head home, take a long shower

and put on something that doesn't smell like a sweaty fat guy.

This is the first time you've worn something I've actually liked.

If it actually fit you, it'd be perfect.

Is everything a big fucking joke to you?

Our only suspect just turned up dead.

You force the only cop who can help me to retire.

- Don't start. - Yes!

The guy's got a ton of experience that could help me out.

I said no!

- It's impossible. Today was his last day. - Norma!

That's bullshit. You got no problem breaking the rules when it suits you. Why?

Because Cosme has cancer, all right?

(SIGHS)

What kind of cancer?

The incurable kind.

You don't know him that well,

but he can be stubborn as hell.

He doesn't want chemo. He doesn't want anything.

(SIGHS)

Does Jorge know?

No, he hasn't told him yet.

Someone has to tell him.

Hey, hey, hey. Don't even think about it.

He can't handle it. He's a big kid. He could barely deal with losing his brother.

You think he'll be able to handle losing his father any better?

- That's not for you to decide. - And why not?

The only reason I know is because it came up on his last physical.

I saw it when I got his report.

Otherwise, I wouldn't know either.

That's why I forced him to retire,

so he could relax and enjoy what little time he has left.

You see now?

You think he'll be happy sitting at home instead of helping us?

- Yeah. - Cops like him don't ever retire.

He'll only retire when he's dead, trust me.

(SNICKERS)

What movie did you pull that from?

You been rehearsing it long?

I wanted to get it just right.

Well, it was a good delivery, convincing.

- Maybe you should've been an actor. - (BOTH LAUGH)

JORGE: Val.

Uh…

Can you give me a ride? The subway's closed.

- (DOORBELL RINGS) - COSME: Coming.

Well, good to see you.

- Am I in time for lunch? - Your timing's perfect.

You might wanna go wake up Jorge. His room's at the end of the hall.

- Here. - Thanks. Lunch is just about ready.

(SPANISH HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING IN HEADPHONES)

Jorge.

(JORGE RAPPING IN SPANISH)

Jorge.

(RAPPING IN SPANISH)

DAVID: Fuck me.

Kid spends a fortune on this shit.

Little dolls.

(SPANISH HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING IN HEADPHONES)

YOU SHALL NOT PASS

Ah! What the fuck, dude? Don't you knock?

I did knock. I shouted. I threw a pencil at you.

COSME: Lunch is ready!

Don't you ever open that door again.

Jorge…

That's a good bottle.

I'm good here.

Cosme,

is that a picture of your eldest son?

You must be extremely proud.

- He died... - Like a hero.

Makes me laugh how people always spew the same bullshit.

Oh Christ.

You should feel very lucky for a brother like that.

Or for one that didn't kick the shit out of me for reading my comic books.

All he wanted was for you to get your nose out of a book

and go out and get a life and make a few friends.

And a father who defended me would have been nice too.

You sound like a real ingrate talking like that.

Your problem is you don't have a father. What happened to him?

- Where is he? What's the big secret? - (SLAMS TABLE)

- That's enough, goddamn it! - No, it's all right.

Forget it.

But if you wanna know…

I was eight years old.

And my mother dressed me in my best clothes.

We were attacked on our way back from the movies.

He only wanted money.

He threatened my mother with a syringe.

And that's when my father stepped in.

He didn't even know the guy had a gun.

Found out later he stole it from a police officer.

He took it out…

And shot him.

My mother started screaming…

So then he shot her to keep her quiet.

They never found him.

And I can remember feeling really dirty.

My mother told me…

Made me promise not to get my clothes dirty. Well…

Sometimes I still feel that blood on me.

Anyway, that's pretty much it.

That's the whole story. Happy?

You serious right now?

- I don't believe you. - The fuck you mean?

Out of curiosity, you seriously never went over your parents' case?

Uh, no. Uh, we're not allowed to see personal files.

That's a crock of shit.

Dad, lunch was delicious, but we gotta get going.

Jorge. Jorge!

Call Norma.

What for?

Call her. Trust me.

(SIGHS) So it was 1989, is that right?

- This could take a hell of a lot of work. - Not like you had anything better to do.

You were at home, sewing a Naruto costume. You love this, admit it.

(LAUGHING) Yeah, right.

Anyone finds out about this,

that I was searching through personal files, dressed like a bunny,

I'll be out on my ass.

You're Head of Homicide, aren't you?

All you have to do is fill out a form to do this.

Oops, I find filling out forms is boring.

It takes the fun out of it.

YOUNG COUPLE KILLED IN FRONT OF THEIR SON

Here it is.

JORGE: Let's see.

Right here.

- Let's see. - JORGE: Son of a bitch.

What is it?

It's a list of all the items found at the crime scene, and this is one of them.

It's a clipping with a word and a number.

Detective #33. Isn't this a comic?

- Yeah. - Yeah.

Detective #33 is a comic where… Well, it's the origin story for Batman.

Thomas and Martha Wayne come out of the movies

and are killed in front of their son.

Hey, you're kidding me, right? You…

He was a junkie.

A... nobody.

We have no idea of knowing for sure or even if he was working alone.

I was there.

It's impossible.

There's no way.

No fucking way.

What the fuck is going on here?

There's no way!

It's impossible!

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

David…

JORGE: So these are some of the possible future murders.

Do you want me to tell you about them?

- Forget it. - Yeah.

No. No. We have no idea how many murders he has planned

or even the order he plans to commit them in.

And even if we did know, how would we stop it?

If only it was based on the seven deadly sins, it would be a lot easier.

It really shouldn't be this hard.

All we have to do is look for some fat loser who's into superheroes.

JORGE: May not be that easy.

So far, he's chosen origin stories from the Silver or Golden Age.

And those are really old comics.

I don't think he's the loser you think he is.

He's got a machine to perform transplants, high-priced refrigeration equipment,

locations. Think about it.

The guy's fucking loaded.

Fine, then. So we're looking for some rich loser freak

who loves old comic books. Doesn't change a thing.

Wait a minute.

Yeah.

It does change a few things. Come on, Val.

- Where we going? - JORGE: You'll see.

Oh, Norma, do me a favor.

Turn the lights off for me when you leave.

What am I? Your fucking housekeeper?

(INTERCOM RINGS)

- MAN OVER INTERCOM: The Mask? - Yeah. Hey, Paco. It's Jorge here.

(PACO LAUGHS) Yeah, so you say it is.

Password or riddle?

- I don't know the password, so riddle. - PACO: Looks like gold.

- The answer is pyrite. - PACO: Whoa!

Who do you have with you?

No one, just a really stupid friend of mine.

- PACO: How do you know he can be trusted? - Look.

The answer is Mū, Aldebaran, Saga,

Mask of Death,

Aiolia, Shaka, Dohko,

Milo, Aiolos, Shura,

Camus, Aphrodite.

(DOOR BUZZES OPEN)

The Knights of the Zodiac who appear in gold.

Thought the answer was pyrite.

JORGE: Paco closed his shop because of the crisis.

Now he sells under the table.

He's ultra-paranoid, so let me do the talking.

(CAT YOWLS)

Paco.

Jorge, Jorge, Jorgito Elías.

You must need something very, very important

to be paying a visit to The Mask.

Who's your boyfriend here?

I just need to know who has these comics.

(CAT MEOWS)

Quite an interesting collection.

This information can only be give out to auction houses

or store owners with a CGC license.

- Do you have that license? - I used to.

You see, if I use the codes now, that would be admitting that I'm active.

Paco, we're asking for help to stop a killer.

People are dying.

Not important.

I don't give a fuck.

People are all overrated.

When they start killing innocent cats, then call me.

- All right, fine. What if we pay you? - Jorge.

We're not giving this clown a dime.

Shut up. (SIGHS)

How much?

Neal O'Neil?

Five Against Neal O'Neil,

autographed by every one of the protagonists on the cover.

- You stole it from me. - I won it at an auction.

- I didn't steal it. - Yeah, right.

You keep telling yourself that.

But that's the price.

All right?

Fine.

What the fuck is going on here?

It's like you just sold your soul to the Devil.

Look, there's a register of comic book owners.

It's called the Siegel-Shuster Almanac.

There are very special comics,

like the first issue of Superman, that go for over seven figures.

A million?

All the comics the killer has used so far are close to a million bucks, maybe more.

But didn't I just buy all these comics at your store?

These are the original comic books we're talking about,

published, what, 60 to 80 years ago.

Maybe the killer bought them, and they're in the almanac.

- Thought it might be worth a try. - Why would he...

So in Spain,

there's only one person…

Who has all four of these issues.

And where do you think he is?

In Madrid.

Thank you.

Go on. It's getting late, and…

I need to eat my dinner and jerk off.

Víctor Vid!

According to Google, it says he's a developer and philanthropist.

So we need to...

What are you doing?

That was me up there. I'm just like that guy.

- Like who? - Like Paco.

All alone and surrounded by cats.

My version of Days of Future Past.

What? You have a father.

- What if something happens to him? - Your friends at the store.

They don't give a shit about me. Norma will get a boyfriend...

Why do you think that? Is there somebody she likes?

She'll just take off.

You have me, no?

We're friends, right?

- Are we? - Yeah.

Come on. Let me you a ride home before your dad starts to worry.

- And Víctor Vid? - First, we gotta run it by Norma.

We'll check it out tomorrow. Come on.

Come on.

(SIGHS)

Thanks a lot. I mean it.

(RADIO BEEPS)

This is C-45. I need an address.

MAN OVER RADIO: Go ahead, C-45.

The name is Víctor Vid.

(RADIO BEEPS)

"First, we'll run it by Norma."

How stupid does he think I am?

DISCOVER LIFE IN MADRID! SURCO DEVELOPMENT

DAVID: Fuck!

(GAS HISSING)

(MAN IN ELECTRONIC VOICE)I'd like you to meet Víctor Vid.

That's who you're looking for, isn't it?

It's a good thing he's dead, or you'd be in trouble.

A hero should have a much cooler head.

There are no such thing as heroes! Psychopath!

MAN: That's true. You're living proof.

But you did solve the riddle and find the villain's lair.

There is no villain here, just one sick fuck!

MAN: Yes, someone is sick here, but it's not me!

(GRUNTS)

I apologize for the hallucinogenic gas you've inhaled.

But having a more open mind might help you learn a lesson.

(GRUNTING)

(GRUNTING)

If you're gonna kill me, at least tell me who you are.

You can call me Professor Nóvaro!

- Professor Nóvaro? What's that about? - "Nóvaro" is my name.

And "professor" is my occupation.

And I have so much to teach you.

Do you know why you can never defeat me?

- Because you're just a man! - (GROANS)

You have to learn how to be more than that,

even if it has to be beaten into you!

Well, I guess I'm luck then, because I am more than a man.

- I'm a woman. - (NÓVARO LAUGHS)

Let him go.

And if I refuse?

Pretty stupid question. I'll shoot you in the fucking head.

(GRUNTS, GASPS)

(GRUNTS)

Ah!

- (SPRAYS) - (SHOUTING)

(NÓVARO LAUGHING)

Shit! (GROANS)

So we didn't find anyone?

We got nothing. That's great. I'll see you later.

MAN: Okay, boss.

(SIGHS) So apparently, there were two more tenants,

but they were at the other end of the development.

And nobody saw anything.

He's been doing whatever he wants, and we can't do anything to stop him.

(SIGHS)

Thanks for backing me up.

Thank me by not doing anything that stupid again.

I didn't have time to tell anyone.

You really think I'm stupid. You wanted to take him down yourself.

- No, that's not true. - Yes, it is, and don't do that again.

Don't even think about it, taking on those fuckers alone.

Tattoo that on your brain.

I feel like I've been hit in the head with a baseball bat.

That's pretty much what happened in there.

I remember a metal face, like a monster.

Yeah, well, you inhaled a lot of that gas. It was a guy in a mask.

- Maybe, but to me, that monster was real. - It was only a guy in a mask.

Nóvaro.

He called himself Nóvaro. He said something about being just a man.

He used me as a shield. And you took a shot.

Huh?

That's the gas talking.

- Sure about that? - You really think I would do that?

I'd have to be crazy. Do you think I'm crazy? Let me take a look at that.

(ROMANTIC MUSIC PLAYING)

JORGE: I'm here.

Why the hell is he dressed like that?

Because today is the big anniversary party in, uh… Oh!

…14 hours.

Well, that's because I put it on last night, and I can't get it off.

I can't reach.

Hey, Ibarra.

Make my day better. Tell me about Víctor Vid.

Well, he owns the building.

Financial records confirm he was a millionaire.

But in the last few years, he squandered half his fortune on extravagances,

and the other half had been slowly withdrawn in cash.

We're looking into his real estate

to see if the killer used another one of his properties as some kind of safe house.

- He had a bunch, even a mansion in Madrid. - So why don't you start there?

We sent a team, and they didn't find anything.

(SIGHING)

- All right, then. - Mm-hmm.

- Tell me if you find any prints. - Sure.

MAN: We lift any clear prints on that?

- Come on, come on, let's get a move on. - So this one is Amazing Fantasy #15.

The origin of Spider-Man.

And here's the origin story for X-Men.

You think there's anything here to help us predict the next murder?

I don't know, but many of the origin stories, like Spidey and X-Men,

are linked to radioactivity.

That's why mutants are called "children of the atom."

But, uh…

I highly doubt this guy's got an atom bomb, right?

MAN: No, no, I already did that part.

It's blank.

Hey, it's Bruguera. He's got something on Víctor Vid. Let's get over there.

- DAVID: Shouldn't he stink more? - (LAUGHING)

You'd think, but he's been embalmed. That's why.

I can't really tell how long he's been dead, but…

Looks like four or five years.

NORMA: So all this time, he took Víctor Vid's identity. Christ!

The bastard has more patience than George R. R. Martin fans.

He was taken out of formaldehyde quite recently.

Judging by the postmortem bullet holes,

was there a little target practice going on?

I didn't find any signs of violence,

so I looked for poison, and here comes the kicker.

Drumroll please. And ba-boom.

I found traces of polonium-210.

- And? - NORMA: You're fucking kidding me!

- Yeah, I know. - "I know" what?

- (SIGHING) - What's going on here?

- Sorry. - Son of a bitch.

- Norma, what's going on? - Shit.

It's radioactive material. Radiation is a fucking national security issue.

Intelligence will step in and take over the case.

- Any way we can keep this under wraps? - Are you out of your mind?

A few years ago, we had a case involving polonium-210.

A few tiny little samples were mislaid.

Internal Affairs lost their collective heads.

So that's it then?

Well?

- I don't know. - It's over?

Looks like.

Unless I somehow managed to delay the report a bit.

It wouldn't look too suspicious if I wait until tomorrow to take the report over.

- No. No, no. - Yes. Yes!

There's no way I'm letting him do that. He's fucked if they find out.

Let them come after me. All I ever do is cut open the victims of killers

who walk free because someone screwed up. Well, maybe this time, I can do something.

I'll make the mistake if it means he gets caught.

Bruguera,

I owe you one. Thank you.

Hey.

- You wanna tell me where you're going? - I'm gonna get the best cop I know.

Wait a minute. You're forgetting I'm your boss here?

You think you can do what the fuck you want?

Oh, yeah. One more thing.

(ROMANTIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(SIGHS)

No. No. There's no way that just happened.

Well…

About time you showed up. Come in.

Why would he take the body out of hiding, hmm?

It doesn't make sense.

The body screws him over.

I mean, he could've continued using that identity a lot longer.

Yeah. Well, either he made a mistake or… or maybe he thinks

there's something else out there he wants us to find. I just don't know what.

Let's think about this.

The name "Víctor Vid" led us to the wall.

And that wall should lead us somewhere else.

I don't know.

I sent a team over to the pet store where he bought those spiders.

Yeah?

And Bruguera's tracing the polonium, but that'll take a few days.

By then, it might be too late.

I, uh, think it might already be too late. Look.

…these dramatic events. The victim, he's an unidentified 16-year-old male.

The body was discovered this morning outside this exhibition site.

He was found hanging from the roof by the wrists,

with what one police officer described as the most gruesome bite he's ever seen.

Now what?

WOMAN ON TV: We have no leads on this case, so we're asking the public…

- I'm gonna go pick up a few things. - What?

Yeah, until Ibarra gets to the station, I don't have access.

I do.

You might wanna get in touch with your police consultant. See you later.

WOMAN 2 ON TV: …a disturbed individual has been pulling off a series

of macabre performances carried out all over Madrid.

The police are at a loss to explain why...

- It's the origin story of... - I know. I'm not an idiot.

Anything else?

- Nothing else to enlighten me with? - No.

No? Fine. A kid died today.

In a few hours, Bruguera will hand in the report, we'll lose the case,

and we still don't know what this psycho wants.

- Do you not know or don't wanna accept it? - What are you saying?

JORGE: Nóvaro thinks he's a supervillain.

And he's attempting to create his own superhero, and that's you.

He killed your parents 20 years ago,

and the murders started as soon as you got to Madrid.

It's obvious, isn't it?

Of all the bullshit that comes out of your mouth,

that's gotta be the stupidest thing yet.

Norma, help me out and bring a bit of sanity to this.

I know it sounds fucking crazy, but I actually agree with him. It's obvious.

Seriously?

Yeah.

You guys think this is some role-playing game?

Real people are dying, not a bunch of comic book characters!

David, it's not like we're gonna do anything this asshole says.

- But you need to accept reality. - Forget it! You're both nuts!

Do you know your father's sick? Real sick.

That'swhat's happening in real life while you kids are playing dress up.

(DOOR SLAMS)

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

Hey, you.

Hey, Dad.

What are you doing here? And what's with the getup, Jorge?

It's just the anniversary of the store.

- Ah. - So how you doing? Need any help?

No, I got it.

- Let me help. - Fine! Let it go!

(SIGHS)

Hmm.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, Dad.

About what?

For being a bit of an asshole since the whole thing with Javi.

Well, uh, don't worry about it.

I'd have loved for you two to get along better, but…

It's just kinda hard to compete with a ghost.

Or with David now.

Why do you feel like you have to compete with anyone? You don't.

And I'll have you know I'm very proud

of the person you've become today. Very proud.

- Really? - Yeah.

As for your brother, he became a policeman in order to please me.

But I never told him I was proud of him. I won't make that mistake again.

Come on, I want to show you something.

YOU SHALL NOT

(SIGHS) Jorge…

Look, you don't have to…

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

POLICE

But that… that's Javi's gear.

Yeah. It was really hard to get, but I got it.

And I've had it ever since.

And I don't want to keep it in here anymore.

I want it at the store because it's a hero's suit.

(SNIFFLES)

(CRYING)

(CHILDREN CHATTERING)

- Sorry. I lost him for a minute. - Don't worry about it.

- I said not to leave your sister alone. - I'm Thanos!

That's enough about Thanos!

- I'm Thanos! - I said that's enough! Let's go, let's go.

Get in the car. We'll talk about Thanos later.

No, no. Just get in the car!

OVER RADIO: ♪ Batman… ♪

TENTH ANNIVERSARY

Sorry, you can't come in.

- Why? What's going on? - You have to be in costume.

- Is this a costume? - I need to speak to Jorge.

Jorge told me not to let anyone in unless they were wearing a costume.

- Look, is he here or not? - No, he went to get pizzas.

And he left me in charge.

I'm Heimdall, the guardian of the rainbow bridge.

All right, guardian of whatever fucking bridge,

- is Norma here? - No, but she made my costume.

Isn't this the greatest costume you've ever seen?

Yeah, it's really beautiful. I'm a cop.

Go ahead.

From what movie?

I'm a real cop.

Jorge put a costume aside for you in case you came.

Are you shitting me?

Hey, how you doing?

What are you doing? Are you trying to get me fired?

One last favor.

And I brought you some marzipan.

Thanks.

MAN: The Nazis pick up the most expensive-looking goblet,

and it's shiny and gold and embedded with rubies.

And then he says,

"The cup of the King of Kings," and he drinks.

But he guessed wrong and pays the price.

His face starts melting off. It drips off his skull.

Then Indiana Jones picks up what looks like the shittiest cup

and says, "This looks like the cup of a carpenter."

Makes the hair on my arm stand up every time I think about it.

- Remember that movie? - No.

- You haven't seen it? - JORGE: Pizza!

You really have to. Ooh, pizza!

MAN: Mine's the one with the pineapple. Thank you.

JORGE: You found the costume?

Amazing! Norma totally outdid Edna Mode.

- You two having a good time? - You're gonna need a name.

You thought of one? How about Yellow Hood or Night Guardian?

Can we talk for a minute outside?

Gotta choose a name that commands respect,

that says you're not afraid to face danger and that you work alone.

- Listen... - You don't really work alone.

There's three of us, right? Hence the triangle.

And you are the vertex of the triangle.

Perfect, then I'll be Triangle Man.

No, you're Vertex.

Fine, Vertex. I have a superhero name now. Can we step outside so I can talk to you?

Whatever it is, you can tell me here.

But make it quick. We're doing karaoke any minute.

I need you.

Okay?

If anyone can help me with this case, it's you.

And what else?

I apologize.

Thank you.

I forgive you, and I apologize as well.

Let's have a kiss! Let's have a kiss!

- I told Norma you were impotent. - What?

Guys, you look like idiots!

(MUMBLING)

All right, according to your theory, what's gonna happen now?

Normally, if the villain doesn't get what he wants,

he raises the stakes higher for his final murder.

And he gets more personal. He does that by going after the hero's loved ones.

His family, his friends, partners…

Like The Kingpin in DAREDEVIL: Born Again.

Yeah, or Joker in BATMAN: The Killing Joke.

Or Green Goblin when he killed Gwen Stacy.

Stay the hell out of this. It's a private conversation.

Eat your fucking pizza.

We're good then. I got nobody.

You think so, but the first ones to get it are the sidekicks.

Like in Batman, where they kill Robin every five years.

But don't worry, he gets revived.

You're my sidekick. Nothing's gonna happen to you.

Mmm. So you finally admit it? I'm your sidekick, huh?

- Man alive. - What?

To Nóvaro, I'm not your sidekick.

- Why not? - I didn't save your ass the other day.

Norma.

Got much longer?

No, I'm just about done.

- Good, because Celiméndiz will kill me. - Yeah.

PERMANENT DISABILITY VÍCTOR VID VELASCO

TRANSFER REQUEST GARZÓN, DAVID VALENTÍN

(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

NORMA ON PHONE: To make your wait more pleasant, I'll sing the song

from Dragon Police.

(SINGING IN JAPANESE)

- Fuck, she's a such geek. - Well?

It's going to voicemail.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

- (POLICE SIREN BLARING) - (TIRES SQUEALING)

Norma!

(PANTING)

What's going on?

(TIRES SQUEALING)

(GRUNTS)

- It's Cosme. - What? What happened?

Someone attacked him on the street, an hour ago.

- Yeah? - All right, listen.

NÓVARO ON PHONE: Hello, hero. You haven't been a very good student.

- But I'll give you another chance. - It's Nóvaro!

(GASPS)

- Where's Cosme? - Where's my father?

NÓVARO: Don't worry about Inspector Galiardo. Just listen.

- Huh? - What's going on?

- (GAGGING) - MAN: Shit!

What have you done?

NÓVARO: Oh, good. I suspect the polonium in the lemonade is taking effect.

- MAN: Foaming at the mouth. - DAVID: It's the lemonade.

All right, nobody drink the lemonade!

- Did you bring it, Jorge? - Me?

Why are you even asking me that? This isn't high school prom night?

- I brought red wine. - (GAGS)

WOMAN: Oh!

NÓVARO: The Chamberí reservoir provides water for all of Madrid.

What I did to the lemonade can easily be done to the city's water supply.

Come and meet me alone, or your mentor dies.

And so will the whole city. I'm warning you right now, I don't want a cop.

I want a superhero.

If you're not convincing, Cosme dies and so does Madrid.

I gotta get moving.

Right away. He's at the city reservoir.

No, we gotta call for backup. We'll send in the army.

We know where he is. We can surround the building.

An X!

DAVID: If I don't show up alone, he'll kill Cosme.

- He'll poison the whole city. - NORMA: You won't go alone.

Not a fucking chance!

JORGE: A group of geeks and nerds who are hated by everyone,

affected by radiation.

Son of a bitch.

- We'll call City Hall. - Don't you get it?

We'll call the Special Forces, and we'll nail this guy!

JORGE: Norma!

In every one of those scenarios, my father dies.

- I'm going. - No, not alone. I'm coming with you.

- Me too. - No. Not you!

All right, fine. But just come with me for a minute.

We don't have time for this, Jorge!

I brought it in this afternoon but didn't have time to set it up.

It's...

The outfit of the greatest hero I've ever known.

My brother.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

It's from China. It's prohibited here because it's fucking nasty.

(VOMITING)

- (INDISTINCT CHATTERING) - (GAGGING)

Punks shouldn't drink if they can't handle it.

Ah! Fuck!

They all love cosplay, but then they start puking.

I need your car to help Vertex.

All right, just don't scratch the car! Who the hell's Vertex?

- Don't worry about that. Just move! - (DOOR OPENS)

He's… he's amazing!

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(ENGINE REVVING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

Is there any lemonade left?

- You're the guy who downloads everything. - Yeah.

Yeah, sure. Go ahead, help yourself.

(GRUNTS)

NÓVARO: Inspector Galiardo.

Ironic, isn't it?

The title of my final murder is "Uncanny," just like X-Men.

And you've ended up in a wheelchair like Charles Xavier.

What's more ironic is my son owns a comic book store,

and he's never even heard of you.

Now just take that thing off.

(LAUGHS) Maybe the most ironic thing…

Is that the only cop on the force

who was able to guess my identity was forced into retirement.

How did you do it?

The doctor who certified the disability for Víctor Vid…

Was Jonathan B.

- Jonathan Bruguera. - BRUGUERA: Well-done.

But I expected no less coming from you.

Now…

Welcome

to the origin story of the very first superhero the world has ever known.

What superhero?

That may be the stupidest thing I've heard, especially in this day and age.

You think?

A corrupt country

and no faith in the justice system.

Sounds like the ideal breeding ground for superheroes.

Don't be stupid, Bruguera.

The last thing this country believes in is superheroes.

In England, stories were written about King Arthur. Here, it's Don Quixote.

We're more preoccupied with madmen.

Then I'll just create a madman like that!

(GRUNTING)

Fuck!

- Shit! - What's going on?

Stop, stop.

Feels like there's something under the car.

All right, I'll have a look.

(TIRES SQUEALING)

Fucking son of a bitch!

(PHONE RINGING)

NORMA: Hey, asshole, what are you doing? You deserting me?

How many times do I have to save your ass for you to admit you need me?

I do need you, Norma.

But now it's my turn. He said to come alone.

I won't risk anyone else's life and for Cosme's sake.

(SIGHS)

Fine, on one condition:

I want you back here alive.

I want you back here alive because I love…

I mean… Well, you get what I'm saying, you stupid fucking idiot.

Because I, um, um, mmm…

I like you.

I know.

Fucking bastard!

Quoting Han Solo, and he doesn't even know it.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

I don't know if you're trying to recapture your childhood, but thinking someone

is gonna fight crime with a mask and cape is ridiculous.

It's about innocence.

And only an extremely sick society would consider innocence a weakness.

Innocent like David when you killed his parents?

Cosme, please.

I didn't kill them.

From what I hear, some junkie tried to rob them, and things got a bit messy.

But I'm telling you, I wasn't there.

- What about the clipping? - There was no clipping.

I put that in the file a month ago to spice things up a bit.

So you took credit for a murder you didn't commit?

Ehh… yeah.

That's right.

I suppose any other cop would have been fine,

but David's whole story was just too perfect.

The whole alleyway, the theater.

- I couldn't resist it. - That's gonna bite you in the ass.

If David comes here thinking you killed his parents...

And that is precisely what I hope he does.

BRUGUERA: Nóvaro must die…

So that a hero is born.

(PHONE RINGS, BEEPS)

Don't call me now. I'm trying to sneak in.

Put your phone on silent. Listen.

Norma called, and she's mad as Imperator Furiosa.

I don't know who that is. I'm at the reservoir, and no one's here.

JORGE: He'll be waiting up top for the final showdown, as usual.

- Got a set of stairs here. Do I go up? - JORGE: Yeah. Be careful.

It's the paradox of Joe Chill.

He was the one who murdered Batman's parents.

If Batman knows his identity,

his revenge would be focused on him.

But if he doesn't know,

then his wrath

is directed at a faceless criminal,

or crime as a general concept.

It's infinite.

That's why I…

Must die as a mystery,

with no answer.

I may even beg for my life to make the whole thing more credible.

(GASPING) "Please help me! I beg you, let me go!

All right, you win. Just help me up."

Maybe that'd be a bit much.

Anyway, let's see how it goes.

You're out of your mind if you think David's gonna show up,

much less in some stupid getup.

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

Mask and all.

Now, that's one hell of a nice costume.

It was probably my son's idea.

- Uh, huh? - (ECHOING) Oh, sorry about that.

I forgot to tell you.

I drugged you up.

I don't want you to be in pain when I kill you.

Huh.

You were one hell of a cop.

But David needs a bit more incentive.

His parents were killed a long time ago.

Even if I have to sacrifice my soul for killing you,

it will be worth it to have someone to protect us.

You think you're a saint? You killed a young kid, you son of a bitch.

That young kid, as you call him…

Violated, raped and dismembered a six-year-old girl.

Her parents don't have her head to bury with her body.

Balbino Blázquez hid chemical dumps near elementary schools.

Antxon Azkar's weapon factory was a cover for drug trafficking.

- Jordi Fórum was a pyromaniac. - That justifies it to you?

All my action are justified

if it means I created a superhero.

Get ready for it, Cosme…

Because the curtain is rising.

Jorge, I'm in the elevator, going to the top.

Jorge?

- (STATIC) - Val?

- Val? - Jorge?

- Is that him on the phone? Is it? - It was, but I just lost him.

- Norma. - What?

He has to do this, and you gotta trust him.

(BUBBLING)

By the way…

The most famous actors in the world aren't just the ones who played Batman.

They're also the ones who played the Joker, Jack Nicholson

and poor Heath Ledger.

I heard a story about that.

A reporter informed Nicholson that Heath Ledger had just been found dead,

and Jack was on the red carpet at the time.

And he was surrounded by people and photographers.

And he stopped dead

and said just one thing.

(MUFFLED SHOUTING)

(SCREAMING)

"I warned him!"

He said, "I warned him!"

(GRUNTING)

(GROANING)

(LAUGHING)

(GROANING)

(ECHOING) Freeze!

Drop it.

(IN DISTORTED VOICE) Welcome.

Drop the gun, or he dies.

All right.

No!

Dad!

Hi, son.

(PANTING)

Son…

(SIGHS)

I'm so proud of you.

(CRYING)

But why?

"Why" what?

Why did I kill your parents? Why did I kill Cosme?

Because I'm evil.

Because I can!

Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?

To create men to stop it all.

Are you that kind of man?

That is the question.

(BOTH GRUNTING)

BRUGUERA: Is that the best you can do?

What a disappointment. I was expecting something more spectacular.

- Like this? - (SHOUTING)

- Who are you? - (SHOUTING)

No! I am nobody.

(SHOUTING) I'm the first of many to come.

(GROANING)

(LAUGHING)

What's so funny?

You were hoping that it would be so simple,

like the butler did it, but you're a moron.

(LAUGHING)

But in this world, evil doesn't have just one face.

I've created the playing board.

And you're the missing piece. It's you.

(GRUNTS)

(SCREAMS)

(PANTING)

Okay, I surrender. I give up.

You win. Just help me.

I'm begging you.

Aren't you a cop?

Arrest me.

Do you see a cop here?

I am Vertex.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(SCREAMING)

(SHOUTS)

(GROANING)

Lord our God, you are the source of light.

We commit our brother to the ground, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

Amen.

So then it was a big vat of green acid?

It was like one of those episodes of Batman from the '60s.

That's a pretty geeky reference.

I don't think it's a geeky reference at all.

Everybody loved that show, didn't they?

Don't ruin it.

David Valentín,

you just graduated.

JORGE: This could be the end of the story, but that would be too sad.

Everything changed three months later. Val, Norma and I followed the trail

of the mysterious disappearance of Bruguera.

He never turned in that report.

Bruguera combed the spectrum of polonium radiation to find the answer.

The three of us continued the search,

and all indications pointed to the mansion of Victor Vid,

the millionaire whose identity Nóvaro had stolen.

The police searched high and low but found nothing.

But we had more luck.

(RUMBLING)

Call it luck, or maybe the police had never read comics from the Golden Age

and didn't know what Bruce Wayne created after his parents died.

Xanadu was full of surprises.

Nóvaro ran everything from here.

A secret place with access to the deep web

and polices files on criminals from all over the world.

It had everything a superhero could dream of.

And Val came to the conclusion that we could only do one thing.

If only the world didn't need Vertex, but wouldn't life be more interesting

if we could just call him whenever we needed him?

Val once asked me what I would say if I ever met a superhero.

Now I have my answer.

I'd say to him,

"Put on your suit,

and go out there and make this world a better place."

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(BRUGUERA LAUGHING)

("ORÍGENES SECRETOS" BY KASE.O FEAT ELPHOMEGA)

(CAT MEOWING)

Who are you?

- How did you get in here? - You used your codes.

- What? - DAVID: You're still operating.

You sell comics under the table. That's illegal, and you're gonna pay.

No way you're gonna convict me for that.

They're only comics. They're not important. (GRUNTS)

To me, they're very important.

Can't we possibly maybe work something out?

I… I have lots of very valuable things here.

You can take whatever you want.

Anything at all.

I'll take that.

NEAL O'NEIL vs ZINCO