Original subtitles

-[film projector starting up] -[somber mariachi trumpet music playing]

[music becomes playful]

BASED ON THE NOVEL OF THE SAME NAME BY JUAN PABLO VILLALOBOS

["El Niño Perdido" by Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga playing]

[music intensifies]

[music ends]

[woman] What you doing, Tochtli?

Looking at my sombreros.

Well, pick one! The food is getting cold, eh?

-[Tochtli] Everybody came? -Yes!

I'll be right there.

["El Niño Perdido" reprises]

CHAPTER 1 PRINCE TOCHTLI

[music accelerates]

[music fades out]

[pony nickers]

[mariachi music playing in distance]

[pony nickers, blows]

[goat bleats]

-[Tochtli] Will you help me, Chichilkuali? -Yeah, of course.

-[Tochtli] Why are you so quiet? -[man 1] We followed your wish list, son.

"Each one of you sitting in your usual place."

"Forbidden to sing 'Happy Birthday.'"

"I want songs 6, 9, 11

from Ramón Ayala's album that Itzpapalotl listens to."

But you can have fun! This is a birthday party.

Have a very happy birthday, handsome.

Eh, happy birthday, bonehead!

[man 2] Damn, Tochtli, you're old now, huh?

[man 3] He-he! Happy birthday, bonehead!

-The tigers and monkeys say hi! -Here.

[man 1] Today, we will grant all your wishes, mijo.

-[Chichilkuali] Just today. -[man 1] Like we always do.

Here. With onion and hot sauce. Just like you like it, right?

[man 2] Ay, ay, ay, ay.

[Tochtli grunts]

All right? Finish up those quesadillas. No presents till you eat breakfast, okay?

-Let's put this! -Turn up the music. It's a party. C'mon!

-[woman] Yes! -Of course, boss.

Gimme your plate.

["Bonita Finca De Adobe" playing]

♪ You know how much I love her ♪

♪ Don't let another man ♪

♪ Win her over with money ♪

-Ay! -[others] Ay!

-[woman] Who wants pozole? -[man 2] Can I get the tostadas, boss?

-Tochtli. Happy birthday, mijo. -[Tochtli] Thank you!

[music continues]

-Bon appétit. -[woman] Bon appétit! Gimme the party hat.

-[man 2] This tastes good! -No onions for me.

-[man 2] Want some, boss? -[boss] Put more. I'm starving.

[woman] It's good, huh?

[Chichilkuali] This is from me.

-[boss] Oh! Let's see! Let's see! -Let's see.

[man 2] It's pretty awesome.

[Chichilkuali chuckling] What do you think, chingon?

[man 2] What's that?

[Chichilkuali] Night vision glasses. To see in the dark.

But to see in the dark, you can turn the lights on.

Damn it, Chichilkuali. I told you to stick to the list, motherfucker.

Next time, you pay it yourself.

-Open mine next. -[Tochtli] Wow, what's this?

-[man 2] Let's see! Let's see -[Chichilkuali] It seems classy!

-[man 2] Open it. It's huge. -[man 3] Finally, a proper present.

Ah!

[woman] Just like the one my grandfather wore.

-It's very nice, huh? -[woman] Try it on.

Agree, mijo. [tuts] It's backwards.

-[Chichilkuali] It's very nice. -[man 2] Exactly.

-[man 3] Fits perfectly. -[woman] Handsome!

-[boss] Let me see. -[man 3] You look pretty good!

-Let me fix this. -Okay. Why don't you open mine.

[Tochtli] Let's see.

-What is it? -[Chichilkuali] How cool!

-[Tochtli] What's this? -It's a lot of presents.

What's that?

What the fuck is that now?

Another sombrero.

-That's a hat. Not a sombrero. -I know what it is.

But look, I can wear it like I'd wear a sombrero. Huh?

Plus it's the original. They use it on the field.

-[boss] And it cost you 2,000 new pesos? -[Miztli sighs]

-I'm giving it to you, Miztli. -[phone rings]

-You look good. -[boss] Never giving you money again.

-Hey, it arrived. -[gasps] I gotta go.

[men chuckle]

And what the fuck did you buy him?

What? A book on the human body! It was on the list, right?

-Yeah. -[woman] Yes.

-Ready. -Chichilkuali, what's arrived?

-My present for you. Come. -Let's see it, son.

-Let's go! -[Tochtli] Eh?

[boss] Let's go.

[Chichilkuali chuckles]

-[boss] Come on, boy. -[Tochtli] What is it, Dad?

-[boss] Ready? -[woman] You guys, hurry up.

-[Chichilkuali] Coming. -[woman] Always chatting.

[quirky brass music playing]

[boss] Happy birthday, mijo.

[Miztli] What's that? What the hell is that?

-[Tochtli] It's a pica-pau. -A what?

[Tochtli] An exotic woodpecker from Brazil.

-[Miztli] Ah. -There are only 250 left in the world.

[boss] Just those, Tochtli?

But it's one of the 15 animals in danger of extinction.

[boss] So we have to take care of it.

Hello. You're not a hippopotamus, but welcome, bird friend.

[Chichilkuali] Where would we put a hippopotamus around here, eh, Tochtli?

[woman] That bird is so beautiful.

Do you have a name for him already?

No, I don't. You have to repeat a name a hundred times.

If you still like it, that's the one.

[boss] Should've given that advice to my mom, Tochtli.

[adults laugh]

-[music fades out] -[Miztli whistling tunefully]

[rhythmic knocking at door]

[door opens]

[boss] I thought you were already asleep, son.

-No. -What word did you learn today?

Sordid.

[sighs] You're a fuckin' genius, bonehead.

You don't have to be a genius to learn big words like this.

-You just have to learn them. -[laughs]

I don't remember what I learned in school.

-Not even cross multiplication? -Not even cross multiplication.

-Did you have fun on your birthday? -I did.

-Did you already name the bird? -No, not yet.

I know it wasn't the first present on your list, mijo.

But, it was quite expensive too.

I do like the bird, Dad.

I'll keep looking for the hippopotamus.

"He who seeks shall find," says Azcatl.

[tuts] Azcatl! The only things that one finds are weeds.

All right, go to sleep. It's late.

-Dad? -Hmm?

Mazatzin says life isn't always fair

because you don't always get what you want.

What's the purpose, then?

Life is like the lottery, mijo.

At least for us, we got a lotta lucky numbers.

Go to sleep. Come on. [clears throat]

Close the dictionary now.

[door shuts]

[somber Mexican music playing]

[man] She had one of her episodes as I was leaving to come here.

You know how it is. Yelitza's sensitive to that treatment.

[Tochtli] Yolcaut asked about you several times.

I sent a message to Chichilkuali.

I gave my apologies for not being there.

Happy birthday!

Who's this pansy?

You read it, and then we'll talk about who he is. But look…

This is a replica of the crown of Louis XV.

The only one that survived the French Revolution?

-Exactly. -Thanks!

It's nothing.

-But it doesn't fit. -No way. Let's see.

Really? I don't believe it.

Listen, stay still.

Ay!

I'll measure your head later and have it fixed for you.

Did they measure the French's heads too before getting them cut off?

No way, Tochtli. The guillotine cut all kinds of heads in an equal way.

-[crowd gasps] -Whatever size they were.

-With no suffering. -Exactly! Very good.

Did you read the study notes?

Created by Guillotine in the 18th century.

-[marker pen squeaking] -Joseph… Ignace… Guillotine.

What was his objective?

To end the existent methods of torture. Like getting dismembered by horses.

That wasn't in the notes, Tochtli.

But, well, yeah.

The idea was that the guillotine would make death equal for everyone,

regardless of status or social class.

With that in mind,

humanism and mercy could also be offered to those condemned to death.

What does "mercy" mean?

Well, "mercy" means, uh,

to show compassion, for the people.

Even for your enemies.

But what is "compassion"?

"Compassion" is to feel pain for those who commit atrocities.

-And what about-- -"Atrocities" are acts of great cruelty.

[Tochtli] Hmm.

Anyway, how's your grammar, kid? Did you do the exercises?

No, I read the history notes.

Tochtli! Grammar is as important as history. Even more!

If you know your language, you can defend yourself against the world.

Do you know why I always wanted to be a writer?

-No. -[somber brass music playing]

Well, because… I think it's the best way of getting to know yourself.

Yolcaut says that literature is just bullshit.

[scoffs softly] Not everything your father says has to be true.

All right. Get your grammar notebook out.

[eraser cleaning board]

[chorus of animal noises]

[music fades out]

[Tochtli] Are you full? Eat some more.

I'll keep the secret.

You don't have a language, but your life is good.

Since you don't know how to talk, Günter,

Azcatl can't make you confess that I'm already giving you tonight's portion.

[Günter snarls]

Hey! You're not giving them tonight's portion, are you?

[Tochtli] No.

If they eat too much, they'll get fat, and then they can't do nothin'.

[Tochtli] And… what are they doing now?

[Azcatl chuckles] Uh…

-You better help me. Come on. -With what?

Put on the gloves.

Let's collect the shit.

[chuckles] It's good exercise for the soul.

And it keeps us humble, Tochtli. Hmm?

[Tochtli] It's gross.

Gross? It's the same as yours, bonehead.

With everything they eat.

[Tochtli retches, coughs]

-[Tochtli] Hi, bird friend. -[bird] Hello.

[Tochtli] After saying it, like, a hundred times, I decided to name you Hippopotamus.

[bird] Hello.

[Tochtli] Not because I don't like that you're a bird

but because what I want most in the world is an African pygmy hippo.

Anyway, you have to be happy because you're a species in extinction

and that makes you special.

It's good that things become extinct,

because if not, then no one would be unique.

[footsteps approaching]

See you later, Hippopotamus.

[quirky brass music playing]

-You're the kid. -What?

You're the kiddo.

What kiddo?

Yolcaut doesn't like having strangers in the house.

-Who's Yolcaut? -My dad.

-Why didn't you call him Dad? -His name is Yolcaut.

-And your mom, what do you call her? -I don't have a mom.

-What type of sombrero is that? -A French tricorn.

Who gave it to you?

Yolcaut got it in a museum in France.

Do you like smoking?

Cigarettes are used to get the truth out of people who are lying.

-[woman] There you are, pinche Yolanda. -I'm coming, Auntie.

I told you not to speak to anyone.

Huh? What the hell's that?!

Hurry up! You're not on vacation.

You have to clean the TV room and the toy room.

-You go find something to do. -[Tochtli] Yes.

-I met someone new today. -[Yolcaut] Who?

A girl who came with Itzpapalotl.

[Yolcaut] Oh, she's her niece, Yolanda.

She came to help Itzpapalotl clean the house.

She's getting old. Poor woman.

-You'll meet someone else today. -Who?

The gov, son. He'll come to dinner.

-With me? -[chuckles] No, with me.

-But I want you to be there as well. -Why?

Because it's important for important people

to know we are a family.

-Let them see it with their own eyes. -But why?

'Cause the gov also has a family. Two daughters.

And people with families

feel more comfortable doing business with people who also have families.

-That's pathetic. -[chuckles]

Ready.

-[Tochtli] Hey. -Hmm?

And do I call you Dad in front of the gov?

Call me whatever you want, mijo.

-What does "gov" mean? -[tuts] Governor!

-Of what? -Of pure bullshit.

-[laughs] -Come on. Go to the shower.

[Tochtli] Don't smack me.

[water running]

[thunder rumbling]

It's not what we had hoped for, I understand. But, uh, it's what it is.

That's the problem with you, Gov. You got used to hoping.

-Sometimes, there's no other way. -We don't hope. We accomplish.

The citizens elect whom they wanna elect, Yolcaut.

My deal isn't with the citizens. It's with you guys.

You just make sure that things stay the same.

And, of course, they will. Of course they will.

Usually, when some of the important pieces change up there,

there'll be changes in the middle and below.

Oh, wait up.

Who said you're an important piece?

[thunder rumbles]

[Itzpapalotl] Dinner is served whenever you're ready.

[Yolcaut] Be my guest, gov.

[Gov clears throat] Mmm, these enchiladas are amazing.

-[Itzpapalotl] Thank you. -[Gov] Do you go to school?

[Tochtli] No. Mazatzin is my teacher.

[Yolcaut] By the way, the fuckin' gringos are very annoying lately.

Well, I can talk to them and assure them that--

-No, no, no, no. -No--

You talk to the people. You talk to-- I'll take care of the gringos.

They say you're a politician.

-How are they useful? -Who?

The politicians.

[thunder rumbles]

Tell 'im.

[Gov] We're in charge of governing the people.

Giving people what they need, hmm, to live happily.

I need an African pygmy hippopotamus.

[Yolcaut laughs] Bonehead.

[Gov chuckles]

For that, you'll have to talk with the gov of Africa.

Is there a gov in Africa?

[Yolcaut] Unfortunately, there is. There are govs everywhere.

What's this?

[Gov] I'm going to need a little help.

Extra.

You know, new president,

new apostles,

new pieces to put in place.

Hmm.

Wouldn't it be better if the boy went to play in his room?

What did you say?

-That maybe it's best if he… -[Yolcaut] No.

The kid stays until he finishes his quesadilla.

-How are your girls, Gov? -[somber music playing]

There's no better lesson in life

than bringing a fuckin' child into the world, huh?

A father would… do all kinda horrible things

to defend his children. Wouldn't you?

[thunder rumbles]

-[exhales] This is not necessary. -What isn't?

We all understand very well how our business works, Yolcaut.

Fine, Gov.

And consequently, in order to keep it running as usual,

I'm going to need extra help, don't you agree?

Hmm. You'll get it, Gov. You'll get it.

Yolcaut always makes it. Right, son?

Yes.

-Itzpapalotl. -Yes, sir?

Take the gentleman's plate. He's done eating.

[Itzpapalotl] Yes, as you wish.

[softly] Excuse me.

-Go with him. -Yes, boss.

-Come with me. -[Gov] Thanks for dinner.

[Chichilkuali] This way.

-[Tochtli] Yolcaut always makes it. -[chuckles softly]

[torrential rain falling]

[Tochtli sighs]

[thunder rumbling]

[groans]

[farts quietly]

[sighs, farts]

[coughs, belching]

-[Itzpapalotl sleepily] Who is it? -It's me. Tochtli.

What's the matter?

Do you have a tummy ache?

Go sit. I'll be right there.

[tuts, sighs softly]

-Can I turn on the light? -No.

[Itzpapalotl sighs softly] It's very late.

[gas lights]

If your eyes hurt, it's your liver, huh?

[moans softly]

Okay, give me your hand.

Does it hurt?

Well, a kid your age can't only live off quesadillas and ice cream, mijo.

You have to eat some other things.

Like fruit, 'kay?

Promise me tomorrow you'll eat at least a mango.

Marie Antoinette of Austria never tasted a mango.

Who's Marie Antoinette of Austria?

They cut her head off, and she never enjoyed a mango.

Promise me, you'll eat a mango tomorrow.

And besides, it has to be a fresh one.

Not a mango popsicle.

Give me your other hand.

[Tochtli farts]

[Itzpapalotl sniggers]

It was you, right?

It was you, you nasty boy.

I'll bring a tea, son. You'll feel much better.

-I hope so. -Of course you will.

My mom would give me a chamomile tea for the stomachache.

['Mi Gusto Es" by Antonio Aguilar playing]

[Itzpapalotl sighs]

[Yolcaut sings along] ♪ But, little girl, I'll still love you ♪

-[Tochtli] A shot in the heart. -Cadaver.

[Tochtli] Thirty shots to the pinky's toenail on your left foot.

Alive.

-[Tochtli] Three shots to the pancreas. -Guarded prognosis.

Maybe. Now you ask me, Yolcaut.

-Three gunshots to the knee. -Alive.

-Two gunshots to the right butt cheek. -Alive.

-A gunshot to the neck. -Cadaver.

-Well, it depends. -On what?

If the bullet doesn't hit the artery that carries a lot of blood, he can survive.

-Guarded prognosis! -Uh-huh.

-A gunshot… to the eye. -There's a problem, boss.

[Tochtli] What happened?

-Be right back, mijo. -[Chichilkuali] What's up, bonehead?

Stay here. We'll keep playing later.

-[Tochtli] Hi. -Hey.

-See you later. -[Yolcaut] What the fuck happened?

-Well… -[Yolcaut] Huh?

[Chichilkuali] It's all over the news. It said someone betrayed us…

[indistinct dialogue]

[music ends]

We also have confirmation that the new Mexican government…

-We're in deep fuckin' shit, man. -[Yolcaut] Turn up the volume.

…for the extradition of several drug trafficking criminals

to a maximum security prison in the state of Arizona.

The agreement has been reached during the president of Mexico's visit

to the United States,

when the US president expressed his concern

about the lack of control the Mexican government has over these criminals.

This is finding opposition

-by humanitarian associations… -Go back to the office, mijo.

-Take him, Miztli. -…violations of human rights.

Let's go, boy. Wanna play? Andale!

-Early this morning, a special ops team… -[Tochtli] What's happening?

…national army launched a surprise operation

with the objective of locating the big drug lords,

such as the head of the Sinaloa Cartel, Yolcaut Rodríguez.

He is one of the targets of the new government.

[fading out] So far, they haven't found any clues as to where he may be hiding.

[solemn classical music playing]

[music becomes mischievous]

[music intensifies]

CHAPTER 2 DETECTIVE TOCHTLI

-[music fades out] -[chorus of insects]

[Tochtli breathing deeply]

[solemn percussive music playing]

-[Yolcaut] Did they mention any names? -[woman] Right now, we don't know.

[Yolcaut] Hmm.

You have someone inside, no? Who can find out?

[woman] Those were the someones we had inside.

No, no. Not from the DEA, Paula.

Inside the FBI.

I'll see what they're saying. Do they know something?

No. No, not yet. Not at the moment.

Okay, then we stop distribution. See who they go after.

-I don't think that's an option. -Why?

Because people expect our product.

You know, competition has grown in the past few years, and--

-Yeah, tell me something I don't know. -Yolcaut, life goes on, okay?

You know, we're no strangers to taking a few risks.

-Yep, life goes on 'til it stops goin' on. -[rustling]

-What? -There's someone there.

Who the fuck is there?

Oh. [chuckles] My son.

Come here, mijo. Come. He's a good kid.

-Don't worry about him. -Okay.

Son, this is Paula Smith. A friend from America.

Hello! What's your name?

-Tochtli. -Nice to meet you, Tochtli.

I love it. You're a detective. Wow!

He looks great.

-Why did her hair move? -[Paula] Wait, what did he say?

It's cool, right? It's like a sombrero made of hair.

[Paula chuckles]

Mijo, I gotta have an important talk with this lady, okay?

[Tochtli] Louis XIII of France made men wear hair sombreros.

In order to avoid head diseases. Such as head lice.

That's why I don't have hair. I just wear sombreros.

All very well. Now I'm going to talk to her.

-Go play there, eh? I'll see you later. -Oh, okay.

-[Yolcaut] Go on. -[Günter roars]

-[Günter snorts, snarls] -[cage rattles]

-[Yolcaut] That's beautiful, huh? -Wow.

-You want tequila? -Yes.

[tense music playing]

[Miztli] We gotta stay alert.

They say that outside there was a real mess.

[trunk slams]

-[Chichilkuali] Who says that? -That's what people said.

-Who told you that? -I don't know. That's what people said.

-Yeah, but who? -Stop fucking around.

[Chichilkuali] Did you close the door?

-[Miztli] No. -[sighs]

[Miztli] I closed it, man!

[apes Miztli] "I closed it, man!" Fuckin' moron.

[Miztli chuckling]

-[Miztli] You're an idiot. -Asshole.

[Miztli] Let's go.

[engine starts]

[music intensifies]

[Tochtli breathing]

[music intensifies]

[music stops]

[Yolcaut] Quecholli!

[playful music playing]

[Yolcaut] Quecholli!

Where are you?

Where have you been?

Get in bed, quickly. My feet are cold.

[Tochtli] …T-I-O-N-A-L-I-T-Y.

Unconstitutionality!

-Perfect! -Tell me a longer one.

Counterrevolutionary.

-No, that's not longer. -All right.

Then, um,

"hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia."

-What does it mean? -Fear of big words such as this one.

[Tochtli chuckles]

-Hi-ppo-po-ta-mus-pyg-my-from-A-fri-ca. -[chuckles]

-You're just messin' around. -[chuckles] You're right.

Hey.

-Tell me. -I was thinking that…

why don't you come with me next week to town?

We can have ice cream. Visit Yelitza.

Yolcaut doesn't like me to go out.

Tell him you wanna go to town.

You're coming with me.

Once I went to town with Miztli, and I found it nefarious.

Well…

Yelitza is looking forward to seeing you.

Yolcaut as well.

What about Yolcaut?

He wants to see you and asked me to invite you for breakfast.

Come on!

[mariachi music playing indistinctly]

[Mazatzin] No! You have to… know what's popular

in the time in which you are writing.

Otherwise, a lot of time is wasted,

and you circle around just to prove your point.

And in this time, what's popular?

-Oh, well… -[Itzpapalotl] There you go.

-I don't know that. [chuckles] -And how can we find out?

Oh, well, when I was younger, I always went against the grain, you know?

-[Itzpapalotl] Do you want one? -So I never got published.

Mazatzin wasn't published because his tales are boring.

Ah, you read them!

Yeah, when he applied to be Tochtli's tutor.

-[Mazatzin] I was a bit presumptuous. -[Quecholli] And so?

[Yolcaut] Now he's just a fuckin' school teacher.

The best paid teacher in Mexico.

So it happens.

The writers that can't make it end up being teachers.

But at least my failure wasn't in vain.

It brought me here to take care of our dear Tochtli. Right, Tochtli?

[Yolcaut] And you, mijo?

-You like your classes with Mazatzin? -Yes.

Have you asked him why he missed your birthday?

What did he say?

-I had some problems, right? -What kind of problems, hmm?

-Just some small problems. With my family. -We pay you to be here. Not to miss work.

What are you doing?

The smaller you make the portion, the better it digests.

[Yolcaut scoffs] That's not true, son.

Quecholli's a pansy. She only eats fruits.

Mmm. Fruits and vegetables.

And cheese, occasionally.

Hey, Dad, but "pansies" also apply to women?

[Yolcaut] Absolutely, mijo.

The world is full of pansies. Men and women and children.

But we are machos and can take advantage.

But being a pansy is not bad, Tochtli.

-Pass me the sauce. -Yeah.

Some pansies have a lot more balls than Pancho Villa. You'll see.

Teachers know a lot about books, mijo. But nothing about life.

-You're not listening to me-- -I'm listening to you, and you're wrong.

Look, mijo. When I mention pansies, I don't mean pansies, pansies.

I'm referring to people who act like pansies.

[chuckles] I'm not a pansy. I'm all macho, and you know it.

-[Yolcaut] Really? -Mm-hmm!

[Yolcaut] Papálototl, pass me a tortilla.

Carnitas!

Very macho?

[Chichilkuali chuckles]

-Prove me wrong. Taquito de carnitas. -No, that's disgusting!

-Get it away from me! -[Yolcaut] Eat it, eh?

No!

[Yolcaut] You were saying?

He scared you. [chuckles]

[Mazatzin] Oh shit, I'm gonna throw up after so many tamales.

[Tochtli chuckles, sighs]

-[Mazatzin] D'you like Itzpapalotl's food? -Yes.

[Mazatzin] Hey.

-Tell Yolcaut thanks for breakfast. -Yes.

-But do it! -Yes!

What are you gonna study tomorrow?

-From the Spanish book, chapter six. -Mazatzin! Your money.

-Count it. -No way. I trust you guys.

[Chichilkuali grunts]

Look.

-Crows in mourning. Is it good? -It's very good.

Is it gory?

It has death, but it's not gory.

[Tochtli] What did you sell him?

I didn't sell him anything. I gave him some novels.

-[Tochtli] Ah! -To start reading.

[Tochtli] See you tomorrow!

-Goodbye. -[Chichilkuali] All right.

-See you later. -Okay.

[gate locking]

[robotic male voice indistinctly] I have the power!

[boy] He-Man attacks and everything explodes!

I have the power!

[boy] Mmm, here it comes!

-It crashes and gets smashed! -Hey!

I have the power!

[poignant classical music playing]

-Hi. -Hi.

-[boy] Do you live here? -Yes.

-Where do you live? -That way.

-And… what's over there? -My house.

-Yeah, but what else? -This whole palace is just for you?

No, there's more people here.

-How many? -Five, but I know a few more.

Do you know a lot of people?

More or less. Just in school there's around, um, 32.

-People say you have a zoo. -Yes.

What animals do you have?

-Mmm… a tiger, monkeys, one zebra… -Hey, and, um… can you invite me?

I don't know. Yolcaut decides who goes in and out.

-And who's Yolcaut? -My dad.

-Do you have a dad? -Yeah.

-And a mom? -Yeah. She's waiting for me.

I gotta go. She gets worried when I'm late.

Yolcaut doesn't worry because I'm always here.

-You never go out? -No.

-I have the power! -Hey, man. You keep it.

Thank you!

-I have the power! -Goodbye!

Goodbye!

[music ends]

[comical brass music playing]

I have the power!

[Tochtli] Hermanos Mexicanos, it's time to take back what was ours.

[soldiers] Yes, sir!

If, in this battalion, there are any pansies, raise your hand.

-[gunshot] -[man groans]

-[gunshot] -[man screeches]

Very well. Two pansies down.

Does anybody else have something to say?

[soldiers] No, sir!

-[man 1] Keep walking! -[man 2] No!

-Who said that? -[man 1] No, what, asshole?

[man 2] Let me go!

-[Miztli] Just walk! -[man 2] I swear it wasn't me.

-[Miztli] Yeah, right! -[man 2] I'm loyal!

-[Miztli] I don't fuckin' care! Move! -[Yolcaut] Did anybody see you?

[Miztli] No. No one.

Ah, keep walkin'!

-[Yolcaut] Where's Tochtli? -[Miztli] Playing in his room.

-[Yolcaut] Take him to my office. -[Chichilkuali] Move, dumbass!

[Miztli] Hurry up! Get in there!

-[music intensifies] -[Miztli] Go inside, bitch!

[Yolcaut] That was a stupid move, asshole.

You're dead.

What did you think was going to happen when we found out?

[mariachi music playing]

[man 2] Don't kill me, please! Please! [sobbing]

[Yolcaut] What is your nickname, Antonio?

-[softly] Antuco. -[Yolcaut] What?

-My friends call me Antuco. -[Yolcaut] Let's use common sense, Antuco.

-Yolcaut, I swear I didn't do anything! -[Yolcaut] Yeah, yeah, yeah. Stop that.

-How many cars do you have, Antuco? -What?

[Yolcaut] It's a simple question. How many cars do you have?

-Three. -[Yolcaut] Three. How many houses?

Two.

Did you finish elementary?

What?

-[Chichilkuali] Answer, motherfucker! -[Antuco coughs, splutters]

[Chichilkuali laughs]

No, I didn't finish it! I didn't finish it!

[Yolcaut] And do you think people who don't finish elementary

usually have three cars and two houses?

What?! [sobbing]

Come on! I have four kids, and the youngest is just a baby!

-Please! -[Chichilkuali] Aw!

[Yolcaut] Ay, Antuco. Because of people like you, this world went to hell.

The only way of avoiding these situations in the future

is to use you as an example, Antuco.

-No. Please don't. Pl-- Please. No. -Look at this…

-No! No, no, no, no, no! -Come 'ere, you fucker!

No, no! No, no! No, no, no! [screaming]

[chaotic noise, loud static]

[noise climaxes, ends]

[Chichilkuali] Wow, this pico de gallo.

-[anchor talks on TV] -[Miztli] Damn it! [gasps]

-Ah, it's really spicy! -Your quesadilla, my love.

[Azcatl] It's spicy? Well, it had a lot of peppers in it. Hmm?

-Can you bring me water? -[Itzpapalotl] I'm coming.

-[Azcatl] Eat the red one. -No way! I can't even talk.

-[Azcatl] That's only for men. -[Itzpapalotl] Then, why put so much in?

[Miztli groaning] Ah, fuck it.

[Tochtli] You got dirty.

…until the investigation is complete. In other news…

-Turn up the volume. -[Azcatl] Huh?

Turn up the volume!

…just informed police found a dead female employee at the Hermosillo Zoo.

The security forces that arrived at the zoo have detained three suspects…

-May she rest in peace. -[Tochtli] Now she's in a lion's stomach.

-She'll be lion's poop. -[Azcatl] Hmm.

Only a leg will rest in peace.

[Azcatl and Miztli laugh]

-Good lord. -[Azcatl] Bonehead!

Do you think in Hermosillo Zoo there's African pygmy hippos?

No. They will never have one.

The president of the republic announced new security measures

to fight this new wave of violence in the nation.

[man] The national army will temporarily take control…

What's the gov doing there?

I ask all citizens of Mexico not to perceive this as a threat,

but as a reinforcement that will allow us to continue living in peace.

[engine rumbling]

[shouting] Goodnight, mijo!

[Tochtli] Goodnight!

["Llorar Llorar" by Carlos Y José playing quietly]

[big cats snarling]

Come, mijo. Come closer.

[Tochtli] Itzpapalotl saved you some tampiqueña.

She told me she was tired.

And she went to sleep.

But she said that if you're hungry, you can go and wake her up.

Look at them, son.

Beauty in a cage.

Give that title to Mazatzin for one of his fuckin' stories.

A lion ate a woman in the zoo in Hermosillo.

That woman got killed.

What do you mean?

Imagine the worst, and you'll be right, mijo.

The meat we give the tigers, is it from corpses?

How many Mexicans do you think have these animals in their houses?

If they got out of their cages, would they eat us?

They probably would, mijo.

The hippopotamuses don't eat people.

It's a good idea, you know?

Going on a trip a few days.

Are you going on a trip?

We are going on a trip. You and me.

But why?

Well, they… they recommend me that I go on vacation.

And where?

I think you know where.

No, I don't know.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

[big cats eating]

[Yolcaut chuckles softly]

[music ends]

[wind howling]

["Tristes Recuerdos" by Ramón Ayala y los Bravos del Norte playing over radio]

[Yolcaut] Your first time on a plane, son. Are you excited?

Mazatzin says it's important to be excited

when you're about to do something you've never done before.

Oh, hey. Gimme that.

-But why? -No! You can't take this hat on a trip.

When we get to Africa, I'll buy one at the safari.

[Miztli] Hey! I wanted to go too, boss!

[Yolcaut] I told you, you're too dark.

If they can mistake you for an African, they won't let you leave.

[all laughing]

-[Chichilkuali] Stop crying, Miztli! -Leave me alone, asshole.

[Yolcaut] Not yet, mijo.

-I want to see the street. -Yes, but the street also wants to see us.

Boss, this is what the gov gave us.

-Honduras? -[Chichilkuali] Mm-hmm.

"Winston López." Pinche name is that, eh?

Dumbass? The idea was to go unnoticed. Come on!

-Well, in Honduras, every name is bizarre. -[Yolcaut] How do you know?

Look, here are Honduras' national soccer team players.

-Aanor González… -[Tochtli chuckles]

…William Murillo, and Rudy Caballero. -[Yolcaut] I don't even know the capital.

Tegucigalpa.

Fuckin' tongue twister.

I am "Franklin Gómez."

Here's yours. "Junior López."

[Tochtli grunts]

[Yolcaut] Okay, what's my name?

-Yolc-- -No, no. My name in Honduras.

-Ah, Winston López. -Very well. And yours?

"Junior López."

It's important to remember these names. How about Chichilkuali's?

Franklin.

Yeah, but Franklin what?

-[Tochtli] I don't remember. -Gómez.

Ah, Franklin Gómez.

These new names are our real names, do you understand?

No.

It's easy, mijo, it's…

Just imagine that you were born in Honduras.

Your family's from Honduras, and all your life happened in Honduras.

Then imagine that what you imagine is real, that's all.

-Do I have siblings? -No.

-Mom? -Nope.

You see? I'm not telling any lies.

Open the curtain, Junior, if you want. We're almost on the highway.

[music intensifies]

-[Yolcaut] You ready? -[man] How you going?

-[Yolcaut] Let's go. -[man] Hello. Welcome, sir.

[plane engine roaring]

[music fades out]

[Yolcaut grunts]

[Tochtli] What time is it?

What time is it?

[Chichilkuali] 2:15.

My watch says 6:15.

In Mexico, it's eight hours earlier. The sun is just rising over there.

-But it's the same sun. -Yeah. It's the same fuckin' sun, Tochtli.

[baby screaming]

[man 1] Here are three passports.

One is a kid and the other two adults.

Everything is fine. Thank you very much.

-What do you think about Africans? -[Tochtli] I don't know.

They're normal people. But black.

-And in Mexico, are there black people? -No.

In Mexico, there are dark people. Like our dear Miztli.

-Do the Lópezes know Miztli? -Ooh, better not!

-Boss. It's done. -[Yolcaut] Let's go.

-Let's go. -[Yolcaut] Come on.

[sprightly music playing]

Hi, Mr. López! I'm your guide.

John Kennedy Johnson.

-Hi. -[John] Pleased to meet you.

Nice to meet you, John.

-Is it, uh, "John"? -[John] Hello. How you doin'?

-Or "John Kennedy"? -No, "John" is fine.

This is my cousin, Franklin Gómez, and my son, Junior.

[John] Okay. Let's go.

-Let's go. -[Chichilkuali] Let's go.

[Yolcaut] Come on. Hey, you go in the front.

-[Chichilkuali] Yes. -Thank you.

Goddammit! It's opposite?!

[John] Have you been in Namibia, Mr. López?

[Yolcaut] No.

[John] Welcome to Bwabwata National Park.

This is the biggest national park we got within our region.

South, we do border with Botswana. And north, we do border with Angola.

So all the animals move freely from one country to another.

It's not like Etosha. That one has a fence.

With us here, it is more open.

-Whereby animals, they are freely-- -[Yolcaut] John. N-- No offense, John.

But we're just here to rest and see the hippos.

-[John] Oh. Sorry. -[Yolcaut] No, no problem.

Well, what do you think about Namibia, Junior?

Sordid.

[music intensifies]

[Tochtli] Hello!

[music fades out]

[music reprises]

CHAPTER 3 EXPLORER TOCHTLI

Junior! What do you think?

-Huh? Ready to hunt hippos? -Ready.

-Let's go. Chichilkuali! -What?

-[Yolcaut] Let's go. -[Chichilkuali] Let's go.

[John] The behavior of the pygmy hippo differs from the common hippo.

The pygmy hippo lives in small groups,

hidden in the rivers.

And that's why the hunters, they prefer to track them at night.

[Tochtli] Is that right?

[Chichilkuali] Yes. Better to hunt them at night,

because during the day, they hide in the river.

[Tochtli] We already know that.

[Yolcaut] Yes, but John here loves to talk like a parrot.

Look, John. We… We're not hunters. We love animals.

[John] That's the good thing about money, Mr. López.

You love any animal you want at any time of the day.

[Yolcaut] Look at them.

They came this far just to take fuckin' pictures.

[Chichilkuali] Taking pictures doesn't cause animal extinction!

[Yolcaut] Fucking pansies. Hey, John. I wanna see the hippos.

Hurry.

[John] Okay, we are entering the comfort zone of the wild animals.

Whereby, please, let's try to minimize our voices.

Otherwise, if we talk loudly, we might scare them away,

or they might get aggressive.

[Tochtli] Look that way! Look!

-[Chichilkuali] Oh, fuck! What are those? -[Yolcaut laughing] Look how they jump!

-[Tochtli] Look! A zebra! -[Yolcaut] Where?

-[Tochtli] A herd of zebras! -[Chichilkuali] It's the fuckin' pack!

[Tochtli] That's Miztli! And Chichilkuali!

[Chichilkuali] Hey, cool down, kid!

[Tochtli] Look over there! It's a giraffe!

-[Yolcaut] Where? -There!

[Yolcaut] I see it! Can you see it, Chichilkuali?

-Yeah! [laughing] -[Yolcaut] Look! She looks like Paula!

[Tochtli] It's missing the wig! It's Paula Wig!

-[Yolcaut] With little horns! -[Tochtli] There's Itzpapalotl.

[Yolcaut] I'm going to tell her. She's going to kick your ass.

-Holy shit! -[Tochtli] Oh, wow! They're so big!

[elephant roars]

-[Tochtli] That's Mazatzin! -[Yolcaut] All stiff.

-Oh look! There are more giraffes! -It's the same one, Dad!

[music fades out]

[Yolcaut] Hey, John. Do you think this is the hippo zone?

[John] It's not guaranteed. They normally change spots.

[Tochtli] When are we going to see hippopotamus?

[Yolcaut] I don't know. This pinche cabrón is just driving in circles.

-How far are we, Chichilkuali? -[Chichilkuali] We're almost there?

-[John] Yeah. -[Chichilkuali] We're close.

You said that three hours ago.

[Chichilkuali] Hey, Johnson. If we pay you more… alot more…

[John] No!

Hey! There, there, there!

-[Chichilkuali] What's that? -[John] Dogs.

If I wanted to see dogs, I would've stayed in Mexico.

[Tochtli] What are you doing?

Mijo, these animals exist just for someone more macho to kill them.

-[gunshot] -What the fuck?!

Where did you get that? Give it to me, bonehead. Huh?

-Who gave it to you? -Nobody.

-Where did you get it? -I found it in our house.

-Do you know anything? -No.

I found it in the secret room.

-Why didn't you tell me what was in there? -You keep it.

-Yes, boss. -[solemn music playing]

Mijo, next time, just let me know, okay?

People in gangs don't hide things from each other.

They always see the truth. You taught me that.

Yes, but not all truths are good to see, mijo.

If I don't tell you something, it's not 'cause I don't want you to know. Get it?

No.

[exhales] Tochtli, there are truths that are better not to be known.

Come here.

Ah, let's go, John. Come on.

[engine revs]

[Yolcaut] It's all good.

[Chichilkuali] No hippos!

[Yolcaut] Goddammit!

[John] I don't think we are going to find them today.

[Yolcaut] What are we waiting for? Let's go home.

[Tochtli] Yes, come on. Let's go home.

[elephants trumpeting]

[Chichilkuali chuckling] And I win!

[Yolcaut] If I wanted to play dominoes, I would've stayed home.

-[Chichilkuali laughs] -[Yolcaut] Fuckin' shitty country.

-Tochtli, d'you wanna go to sleep? -[Tochtli] I'm not tired.

[Yolcaut] For fuck's sake.

Is there booze in this fuckin' country?

-Amarula. -What?

Amarula! But I saw some rum.

-Okay, bring a bottle. Come on. -Yes.

-What's rum? -Rum is like tequila.

But… made of sugarcane.

Can I taste it?

Do you want some?

Okay, come.

Raise your arms.

[poignant music playing]

No! Not yet, mijo!

When you get armpit hair, Tochtli, I'll give you a little taste.

-Okay? -[both giggling]

[Tochtli] Look. Monkeys.

We'll find them, son. I promise, huh?

[Tochtli] I hope so.

-What do you mean? Who can always make it? -Yolcaut.

[Yolcaut] That's right.

-You look like that one. [chuckles] -You look like that one.

With the hippos, I'll complete my birthday list!

[sighs] For fuck's sake!

-Listen, Chichilkuali. -Huh?

Enough of this. I'm done with this guy.

He's just messing with us. We ain't seen shit.

[Chichilkuali] Yes, boss. Hey, Johnson.

-We traveled very far to see the hippos. -Know what?

-What, Dad? -[Yolcaut] Something's going to happen.

-Something like what? -Something good.

That's called a premonition.

Yeah, exactly, my boy. I have a good premonition.

Nothing happens in this fuckin' forest.

[Tochtli] A lot is happening, but we can't see it.

That's nature. It hides until it kills you.

[animals grunting]

-[Yolcaut] Why's he stopping? -[John] There are the hippos.

-Hey, hey, hey! Come! -[Yolcaut] What?

Look! There they are!

[Chichilkuali] Are those hippos?

[Tochtli] Those are not pygmy!

[Yolcaut] No, no. The ones on the bank. Look!

-There they are. You see them over there? -Tell him not to kill it.

He won't kill it. He'll put it to sleep so we can take it to Mexico.

[celebratory brass music playing]

-[Chichilkuali] Yeah! Yeah! -[Yolcaut] I told you! I told you!

[Chichilkuali] We did it! Yeah! Yes, we found 'em! We did it!

[all whooping, laughing]

[Tochtli] Yeah!

[Chichilkuali] This is amazing! Yes! Yes!

["México Lindo y Querido" by Jorge Negrete playing]

♪ My beloved and beautiful Mexico ♪

♪ If I die far from you ♪

♪ Let them say I'm asleep ♪

♪ And bring me here ♪

♪ Let them say I'm asleep ♪

♪ And bring me here ♪

♪ My beloved and beautiful Mexico ♪

♪ If I die far away ♪

♪ From you ♪

[John] Is Mexican music famous in… Honduras?

Oh, yeah. Yeah, John. Very famous. Very famous.

Centuries of culture, and the world sees us

as a mix of Cantinflas and Speedy González.

Cantinflas has to be the gov.

They must be taking the hippos to the port by now, hmm?

-How long will the trip be in the boat? -[Yolcaut] Mmm, many days.

-[John] Thank you, thank you. -We have to feed them.

With a lot of alfalfa.

-Alfalfa? -Yes.

-[Yolcaut] What's alfalfa in Namibian? -Don't know.

Find out and tell John to take care of it.

[John] Oh, we were very lucky! One of these hippos…

One is a male, and one is a female.

[Chichilkuali] Oh, yeah! Yeah, Tochtli. That way you could have some baby hippos.

What name are you going to give them?

I won't know until I repeat the name a hundred times.

Cantinflas. Cantinflas.

Cantinflas. Cantinflas. Cantinflas.

Cantinflas. Cantinflas. Cantinflas.

Cantinflas. Cantinflas. Cantinflas. Cantinflas.

Can-tin-flas! Can-tin-flas! Can-tin-flas!

Can-tin-flas! Can-tin-flas! Can-tin-flas!

Can-tin-flas! Can-tin-flas! Can-tin-flas! Can-tin-flas!

[chanting continues]

[whooping, laughter]

Hey, take a look at this amazing sky, son.

[percussive music playing]

Who would imagine this? Tochtli in an African night.

-[groaning] I'm really full now, Dad. -Pinche Junior!

I love you so much, mijo. Huh? I really love you.

I adore that little bald head of yours.

Like I told you, Yolcaut always makes it.

-Winston. -What?

Your name is Winston.

Really? But the one who makes it is Yolcaut, remember? Come here.

Hop on. Let's go.

-Hey! -[Tochtli] Hey!

-Chichilkuali! Ay! -[laughing] He won't remember his name.

[Yolcaut gives a mariachi shriek]

-[Tochtli gives a mariachi shriek] -[Yolcaut laughs]

[Yolcaut] Your hippopotamus are going to Mexico!

[Tochtli] Ay!

[music fades out]

[Tochtli] I'll name the male Louis XVI

and the female Marie Antoinette of Austria.

[Mazatzin] Leave "of Austria" out, no?

I like Marie Antoinette of Austria.

Would you like me to call you… Junior López of Tegucigalpa?

-No. -Oh, you see?

[video game music in background]

-When are you back? -Soon.

-[knocking at door] -Yeah, but tell me when. C'mon.

-I asked Winston, and he said very soon. -We're almost leaving, okay?

-[John] They called from the boat. -We miss you here, Tochtli.

Me too.

-[John] We need to go there. -[Yolcaut] Where?

-[John] To the boat. -Who's that?

-John Kennedy. -[Yolcaut] Why?

-Who? -[John] Hippos are sick.

-We need to go now. -Our guide.

[Yolcaut] Sick? Tochtli, hang up.

-Bye. -[Yolcaut] Hang up. We have to go.

[somber music playing]

[John] Hippos are there, but… it's better not to go in.

[Yolcaut] Why?

[John] They're sick. They could be contagious.

-[Yolcaut] What the fuck is he saying? -[Chichilkuali] Apparently, they're sick.

-[Yolcaut] How does he know? -[Chichilkuali] We wanna see them, John.

It is not safe.

-Open the door. -[Chichilkuali] Show us, please, John.

-You stay here, son. -[Tochtli] I wanna see them.

-[Yolcaut] Let me get in there first. -No!

Stop being stubborn! Maybe it's dangerous, mijo.

People in gangs don't hide the truth!

Better yet, they tell each other everything, eh?

[quirky brass music playing]

[Yolcaut] Are you sure?

[Tochtli] Hello.

[John] Keep your distance. Don't go near them.

Don't get close, mijo.

Who's Louis XVI, and who's Marie Antoinette of Austria?

-[Chichilkuali] Who's who, Johnson? -[John] It doesn't matter anymore.

-These animals, they are ruined. -[Yolcaut] What happened?

-[John] Anthrax. -[Yolcaut] What?

[John] It is a highly infectious disease. It kills many animals.

[Yolcaut] Then bring 'em back. Tell them to fix 'em.

[John] I already did. The only thing they could say is to put them to sleep.

-They pooped, Dad. We have to clean them. -[Chichilkuali] It's the only way, boss.

[sighs] No, don't touch 'em, Tochtli.

-[shouts] I said don't touch them! -They need help, Dad!

Hey! Yeah, mijo. Now, it's too late.

-There's nothing we can do. -Why?

They're suffering in these conditions! It-- It's horrible for the animals!

I don't want 'em suffering.

[hippo groans]

[Yolcaut] Tochtli, there's nothing we can do.

-Why not? -Because that's not how things work!

Yolcaut always makes it.

-Mijo… -Yolcaut always makes it!

I promise I'll get you other ones.

-Huh? -I don't want other ones!

I want Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette of Austria. My friends.

You're relentless, boy. You don't even know them.

-I do know them! You have to help 'em! -They're suffering, can't you see?

-Make them stop suffering. -They're suffering, Tochtli.

-Gimme the gun. -No. No!

-It's better to help them die quickly. -No.

They'll arrive dead to Mexico. Putrid and rotten. Understand?

I'm gonna travel in here and take care of them.

[Yolcaut] Get out.

Get out!

[emphatically] Get out!

You too.

Come on, leave.

Repeat what you just said.

-Repeat what you just said. -What did I say?

You're going to travel and take care of them.

-Yes. -Really?

-Yes! -Look at them. Look at them! Hmm?

Look at them, Tochtli. Not my fault, understand?

I'll buy you new ones. Yolcaut always makes it.

Stop lying!

Everything you say is a lie!

-Get out, Junior. -No, I'll stay with you.

-Tochtli, son, get out! -Whoever leaves is a pansy, huh?

If you say so.

-[music fades out] -[high-pitched tone]

[hippo breathing weakly]

[poignant music playing]

[music ends]

[anchor 1] …started the flattening of line 51--

[anchor 2] He scores with the face. He could've used the right foot…

-Sordid. -…awarded enough time.

[Woody Woodpecker laughs]

Nefarious.

[narrator] It includes both colonial palaces…

-Pathetic. -…exquisite wood carvings--

[upbeat music playing on TV]

Ominous.

[narrator] …a form of art

that showed bravery and indifference to pain.

Bushido not only sanctioned double dealing and treachery,

Bushido extolled absolute loyalty to one's superior

and reckless bravery in battle.

[mystical music playing]

CHAPTER 4 SAMURAI TOCHTLI

[radio playing indistinctly]

Konnichiwa.

-That hat is beautiful, mijo. -Thanks.

What are you cooking?

Tripe stew, fish on the grill, and delicious quesadillas.

In Japan, they also eat raw fish.

Yes, but they also eat other stuff, don't they, Tochtli?

My name is Usagi.

-I don't know what that means. -Well, it means "rabbit of the moon."

Ooh! Hey, mijo.

Here. Come. Promise it's good!

-Usagi doesn't eat menudo or quesadillas. -What does he eat, then?!

-Just raw fish. -Oh, mother of God.

-Can you prepare some raw fish for me? -No, because you won't eat it!

I am going to eat it. I swear on Miyamoto Musashi.

-On who? -The most macho of the samurai.

[sighs] Very well, okay. One aguachile coming up for Tochtli.

-Usagi! -Oh, sorry! For Usagi.

[Yolcaut] This tripe stew is fuckin' delicious.

-[Itzpapalotl] My mom's recipe. -[Yolcaut] Oh really? And how's Yolotl?

-[Itzpapalotl] She's old. -[Yolcaut] Tell her I said hi.

-[Itzpapalotl] Want more? -[Yolcaut] No, I'm full. It was amazing.

-[Itzpapalotl chuckles] Okay, boss. -Hey, you. How's the aguachile?

["Nieves de Enero" by Chalino Sánchez playing]

I'm talking to you, mijo.

Tochtli.

Hey! I'm talking to you, mijo.

-[Itzpapalotl] He's Usagi now. -Huh?

His name is Usagi. I think it's Japanese.

It means "rabbit of the moon."

-[Yolcaut] Usagi? -Yeah.

He's a samurai.

Mm, really? With that robe, he looks more like a pansy than a samurai.

[Azcatl chuckles]

Please pass me the water.

-Yes. -No.

I'm closer to the water, mijo. Why don't you ask me?

[phone ringing]

-[ringing stops] -[Chichilkuali] The gov.

-[Yolcaut] What does he want? -Us to turn on the news.

Hey, where you going? There's a TV here.

We're family, eh?

[Yolcaut scoffs]

[male anchor] …not closed. After a raid, an army unit

discovered dozens of human remains

scattered in an open area known as Eagle's Hill,

located near the highway that connects to Culiacán, Sinaloa…

Are human remains better than corpses?

Well, yeah! Because nobody can find out who they were before being corpses.

Turn up the volume, Usagi.

…arrived at the scene, riding in vehicles…

No, I asked Usagi. Give him the remote, shithead.

…reports have been received, apparently filed by residents

and workers of the neighboring properties

-alarmed by the presence of smoke… -Turn up the volume, Usagi.

…coming from the burning of tires.

I'm talking to you!

So far, up to ten black plastic bags with human remains…

-I'm talking to you, Usagi. -…have been found.

-The state attorney general… -I'm talking to you!

…who arrived later, expressed his deep concern…

You have something to tell me? Tell me! Don't be a pansy, Usagi!

Speak, for fuck's sake! Enough of your bullshit! [sighs]

So far, there's no suspects or information…

I didn't know I had raised a spoiled brat!

D'you think this behavior will get you something? Huh? Huh?

[Chichilkuali] Boss.

The bodies were half buried, almost on the surface,

as if the perpetrators of this atrocity wanted them to be found easily.

[poignant music playing]

There were four dismembered bodies found.

Three men and one woman.

Quecholli.

However, from what could be seen…

Power off.

…police believe…

Fucking shit!

[Tochtli vomiting]

[door opens]

[clock ticking]

[ticking slows down]

[ticking speeds up]

[big cats snarling]

[large projectile descending]

[Mazatzin] The gringos! The fucking asshole gringos, Usagi.

[Tochtli] Nefarious.

According to the gringos,

the atomic bomb was for annihilating many lives quickly, without suffering.

-Like the guillotine? -No, no, no, no, Usagi. No.

The atomic bomb is much crueler than the guillotine.

Not only because it is a method of mass destruction but also of torture.

We don't have atomic bombs here. But we have other stuff.

-Here in Mexico? -No, here in this house.

[tuts softly] Such as?

Well… truths.

What kind of truths?

The ones that are not good to see.

[rumbling on TV]

[Mazatzin] Hey.

I'm sorry about the hippopotamus.

Sometimes animals get sick because they don't wanna be trapped.

-Yolcaut is a traitor. -No, come on.

[Mazatzin sighs softly]

I brought you a present.

No, thank you. It's not my birthday.

I know, but… it's the birth of Usagi.

You also give gifts when someone is born.

If you wanna be a real samurai… you have to read this book.

It's a dictionary but for samurais.

-This book will help you when you grow up. -How is it going to help?

Just read it.

-What's this? -It's a dedication.

Why?

Well, sometimes gifts have a dedication to make them more personal.

You're very important to me, Usagi.

I wanted you to know that.

See you tomorrow?

No.

[poignant music playing]

You study, okay?

[door shuts quietly]

In an area of a little more

than three square miles, there was very severe damage.

DEAR USAGI PLEASE UNSHEATH ME

YOLCAUT ALWAYS MAKES IT

[whistles softly]

[cymbal crashes]

[Azcatl] It's easy to fight with imaginary enemies, right, Usagi?

Why don't you help me? Let's rip out these weeds. Huh?

I can't. I'm chopping heads.

The only head that's gonna get chopped is yours. Uh!

Pay attention, you bonehead!

[sighs]

[woman] You have a lot of space, and I like the colors very much.

I think this place is very cozy.

I really love the house. It's really big.

I love the decoration. [chuckles]

Hi.

She's Cuazalotl, mijo.

We lived together in the other house when you were younger.

She'll stay with us for a couple of days, eh?

They told me your name is now Usagi. What a pretty name.

[Yolcaut] Careful with that. You don't wanna hurt anyone.

[clock ticking]

I brought a gift for you.

I got it in Acapulco.

[Yolcaut] What do you say?

Please, mijo. For how long are you going to punish me?

-[Cuazalotl] It's okay. It doesn't matter. -No, no. It does matter. Huh?

If she gives you a gift, you say "thank you."

If you're ignoring me, fine.

But… I don't understand, son. If Alotl gives you a gift…

-Thank you, Alotl. -…then you have to--

You're welcome.

[Alotl chuckles]

-[Yolcaut] Bonehead. -[Alotl chuckles]

-Shwoo, shwoo! -Oh, shit! You too?

[both laughing]

[Yolcaut] Why didn't you tell me anything?

-'Cause I didn't wanna talk to you before. -No. Do you know something?

-[Chichilkuali] No. -[Miztli] No, boss.

[Yolcaut] Fucking Mazatzin. Did he tell anyone?

-Maybe something happened to Yelitza. -To who?

To Mazatzin's wife. She's sick.

Listen, check what's going on. Go.

[Alotl] Mmm.

-Fuckin' delicious. -Told ya. [clicks tongue]

Say thanks to Itzpapalotl. You have to win her over.

-Unless you want to starve to death. -[Itzpapalotl] Come on!

-[Alotl] Thank you. -You're welcome.

-You always eat so little or what? -Always when I'm not hungry.

-[Miztli] You got more peppers? -Get up and get 'em yourself!

-Come on, let's go to bed. -[Alotl] Oh, behave yourself. [chuckles]

[Yolcaut] Yeah, right.

-Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am, Usagi. -Hey, Miztli! Hm!

-Now what? -[Alotl chuckles]

-Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am. -Come on!

[cockerel crowing]

-[Yolcaut yells] No! Fuckin' motherfucker! -[banging, glass breaking]

[Yolcaut] Pendejo! [grunting]

-[banging continues] -[Yolcaut] Fuckin' shit writer!

Mother… fucker!

Fuck you, motherfucker! [grunts]

[Itzpapalotl] Tochtli! Come, mijo!

-[Yolcaut] Tochtli. -Hey. Wait, wait.

-[Itzpapalotl] Come here. -[Alotl] Calm down. Easy. Let it go.

Look at me. Look at me, look at me.

Listen.

Take it easy. Hold me.

Hold me tight.

[softly] Listen. Listen to me. Everything is gonna be fine.

[Chichilkuali] We found Mazatzin.

-[Tochtli] What does it say? -[Chichilkuali] Everything.

-The truths that aren't good to see? -[Chichilkuali] Mm-hmm.

-[Tochtli] He wrote about Yolcaut? -Yeah.

He wrote about all of us.

Everyone except you. There's no Tochtli in the rabbit hole.

-And Usagi? -Him neither.

[dark brass music playing]

[Tochtli] Why?

Uh, probably… he wanted to protect you.

-From what? -[Chichilkuali] We don't know.

[music intensifies]

[music intensifies]

[music fades out]

-[Yolcaut] I'm gonna fuckin' kill him. -[Paula scoffs] No.

-No, I would not suggest that. -[Yolcaut] Why?

There's only one thing you can do. And you know it.

-What thing? -Disappear.

At least for a while.

-A while?! -Mmm.

A few years until whatever's going on out there…

-You know-- -No.

-What do you mean "no"? -No, no. He's a pinche writer, Paula.

-He's not the only one, Yolcaut. -What?

When was the last time you talked to the gov?

-Hmm? -I'm going to find him.

-Who? -Mazatzin.

-[video game music playing on TV] -Well, that's stupid.

Listen, anything that's news today

dies down quickly, and eventually, it vanishes.

¡Con una chingada! I'm not disappearing. Okay?

[sighs]

I don't understand, then.

-What? -What am I doing here?

Huh?

-I need to be sure you remember. -Remember what?

Our talk.

-[scoffs] We've had many talks, Yolcaut. -The only one that matters.

[poignant music playing]

Course, I remember.

Good.

Let's have some tequilas.

[softly] And who's that?

[Tochtli] The samurai's brother.

-[Yolcaut] Is the brother also a samurai? -[Tochtli] He isn't.

The one with the katana is the samurai.

-[Yolcaut] That one? -[Tochtli] Yes.

And that one, the one without a sword,

it's the brother. The one who's not a samurai.

It's not so complicated, amor.

What about that one?

That's the samurai's father. You know?

-Who's also a samurai? -[Tochtli] Yes.

[Yolcaut] Hmm.

Why are they fighting if they're family?

Really? Are you gonna keep talking through the whole movie or what?

They're fighting for honor.

Because honor is the only important thing for a samurai.

[poignant music playing]

[Alotl] Where are you going? The movie's not over.

Dad? [louder] Dad?

You know what?

Some day, you're gonna have to do that with me.

Do what?

Okay. I'll see you in bed.

[door shuts]

[music fades out]

[man in distance] One, one. Two, yes. Yes. Testing, testing.

[melodic knocking, door opens]

-[Yolcaut] Which word did you learn today? -Turn up the volume.

Resignation.

I can't hear shit.

Two. Test, two.

Two! Two, two, testing. Three, three!

-We're all set. -The party started already, mijo.

-Bring the tuba! -I'll be right there.

Testing, test-- Yes.

Mijo, today… Today, I want you to be Tochtli.

-How's it going, people? -But why?

-Because that's your name. -Okay. Two, yes.

But my name is Usagi.

-I want you over there. Wait up. -Come.

Hey! There's a delay!

[sighs] No, your name is Tochtli.

Like your grandpa.

And you're not Japanese. You're Mexican.

-Do you understand this? -Yes.

-Please bring another mic. -[man laughing outside]

Okay, hmm? Please go change.

[somber brass music playing outside]

♪ There goes the she-wolf of evil As those who saw her say ♪

♪ My donkeys have already died So she can't hurt me ♪

♪ There goes the wolf of evil Say those who saw her ♪

♪ My donkeys have already died So she can't hurt me ♪

♪ I told you girl and I told you so ♪

♪ If it wasn't for the she-wolf here We would be together until dawn ♪

♪ I think that yes, yes, yes I feel like no, I feel like no ♪

♪ Your husband doesn't love you Like I do ♪

[vocalist] Hell is number one! And keep going with the joyful boy.

Long live Sorianita, brother!

[mariachi shrieking]

-[man 1] Hey. -[man 2] Hey.

-[man 3] Hey, pass me the green one. -[man 1] Uh!

-[man 2 laughs] -[man 3] I don't believe you.

-Come on, man. -[Chichilkuali] Another one?

-[man 2] Huh? -[Chichilkuali chuckles] C'mon--

-[Tochtli] How many can you eat? -[Chichilkuali] Sh, sh, sh!

Like my dad used to say. Us that are real men, we don't… we don't… talk much.

-Ah! -[Chichilkuali] Don't be shy, boss.

And… I don't know, I don't like to be the center of attention, but…

but today, I wanna say something.

You, my brothers, you have been, um, an essential part of this family.

Including our new friends from the band Soyotitas.

-[overlapping chat] -Band "Soyotitas."

-[Azcatl] Bravo! -A… true family isn't just

only the one we're given at birth.

It's also the one you choose. The one that forms around you.

You're our brothers and sisters.

-[Miztli] Yeah. -Agreed.

Hm? I want tonight to be for us! It's our party.

I want you all to go to sleep really fuckin' drunk!

Itzpapalotl, you too, ma'am.

-Yeah, you too! -Me?

-Okay? -[Itzpapalotl] Okay. ¡Salud!

And go to sleep knowing that we love you very much.

-We love you very much. -And, uh…

-[Chichilkuali] We love you as well, boy. -Yeah. And uh…

-[Miztli] We love you, Tochtli! -…we will always thank you for…

You're gonna make me cry, man. I wish you a happy new year, everybody!

-Happy new year! -Happy new year!

-[Tochtli whoops] -Best is yet to come, man.

Eat fast because you gotta keep playing, cabron!

[men chuckling]

It's time, mijo.

Time for what?

-[Yolcaut] Lemme see your hands. -[Tochtli] Take a good look.

[Yolcaut chuckles] Bonehead.

Hmm. [sighs] Ay, ay, ay.

Come close.

Grab it.

No, no, with this hand, mijo. Here. And hold it tight. This one kicks.

-And who do I shoot? -To the sky, Tochtli.

-Only the sky? -Only the sky, son.

-Do you like it? -Yes.

♪ Whoever wants to be my friend Must have three things ♪

♪ A good saddle, a good horse And good legs to run ♪

♪ Welcome to the fearful And courageous one ♪

♪ Where is his fearful wife? ♪

♪ Fixing her dress, fixing her hairstyle ♪

♪ The daughters of the fearful And courageous one ♪

♪ And the cord of the kid ♪

Yeah! Fuck.

[Alotl] Not that one. [sighs] Look.

Every year, we're gonna write here what we don't want in our lives,

and we're gonna burn it today.

-All right? Do you have something? -[Tochtli] Yes.

-[Alotl] Put it there. -[Tochtli] Done.

And… when should we burn them?

[Alotl] Now it's gone.

[Azcatl] All right! I have the pozole! Whoo!

-About time. -Let it burn, come on.

It'll never come back.

Just write it down. This will burn it all up.

-[Yolcaut] What the hell are you doing? -He's burning bad luck away.

-They brought the pozole, didn't you hear? -D'you wanna help me serve it?

-Yeah, come on. -Let's go.

[drunkenly] I could've made the pozole.

-Cheers, boss. -[Yolcaut] Cheers!

-Are you drunk? -No way.

-[chuckles] Well, just a little bit. -[Yolcaut laughing heartily]

[Alotl] Gimme some of those bowls and the spoon.

[upbeat music playing outside]

Here.

-[dramatic music] -[both scream]

-It's the gov! -Go get your dad! Come on, Tochtli, run!

-Okay, yes, yes! -Quick! Run!

[Yolcaut drunkenly] ♪ The day that I die ♪

♪ I'm not going to take anything with me ♪

♪ I've got to give into indulgence ♪

♪ Life will soon be over ♪

♪ In… this world ♪

♪ Only the memory remains ♪

Dad!

♪ Once dead, I'm going to take… ♪

Dad!

♪ …with me… ♪

Dad! Dad.

What is it, son?

-The gov! -What?

-The gov! -What the hell does he want?

-He's here! -What?

[volley of gunfire]

[Yolcaut] Tochtli!

-Tochtli! -[big cats snarling]

-Have you seen Tochtli? -No.

Free the animals, come on! Quickly!

["El Son de los Aguacates" by Banda El Recodo playing]

[gunfire continues]

[Yolcaut] Tochtli!

Tochtli. Come! Come on, come!

-Where? -Let's go.

[music intensifies]

[Miztli] Die, motherfucker!

Come on, assholes!

[mortar whistling]

-[Yolcaut] Get down! Get down! -[Chichilkuali] Cover me!

[Yolcaut] This way. This way, this way. Tochtli! Run! Run, mijo!

Dad! Yolcaut!

Assholes, motherfuckers! Argh!

Argh! Argggh!

Go inside, kid! Go inside!

Inside, mijo! Go inside!

[Tochtli] Itzpapalotl! Come!

You'll see now, motherfuckers!

Take this, you fuckin' idiots!

Fuckin' soldiers, dickheads, pansies!

[men screaming]

You can't deal with this old lady, assholes!

¡Chinga tu madre! Gimme the gun!

-[Itzpapalotl] Motherfuckers! -Where's Tochtli?

Cover yourself, goddammit!

Get inside, son!

-[Itzpapalotl yelling] Come on! -[music ends]

-[gunfire continues] -[men scream]

[solemn music playing]

-[Yolcaut] Hey! Let's go! -[Alotl] There you are!

-Hey. Come. Let's run. -Quickly, son.

-[Alotl] Run. -Run, boy! No! Duck!

[horse squealing]

[Alotl] Run. Quick. Run. Run!

Dad!

-[Alotl] To the sombreros room! -[Yolcaut] Go, go!

[Tochtli] Which way?

-That way! -[Yolcaut] Run! Run! Run!

Stop there. Let me go through.

Move over. Now.

-Come on. Get down there, Tochtli. -No!

You go with Alotl. She'll take care of everything. Listen to me--

-What about you?! -Go. I'll see you on the other side. Run.

When, Dad?

I have to stay here. Our people are out there, and I have to help them.

Tochtli… Hey, you're a kid. None of this is your fault, okay?

-I'm a kid, but I'm no pansy. -I know you're not a pansy, mijo.

Those people don't know you're here. They don't know you exist.

-Do you understand? -No!

Tochtli… I built this palace for you.

Just for you. So you could be free. But you can't be free here anymore.

[explosion]

-Mijo! -[Alotl] Let's go!

Don't be afraid. Remember, Yolcaut always makes it.

Come on.

Dad, come with us!

-I'm coming, mijo. -Dad!

[Yolcaut] Thank you. [sighs]

Done.

[music intensifies]

[music becomes melancholy]

[distant gunfire continues]

[music becomes tense]

-[Tochtli] Where we going? -To meet some friends!

-Friends of who? -Hurry, I'll explain later.

Grab this, c'mon.

-[Tochtli] Okay! -Hold it, hold it!

[engine starts]

Hop on. Get on! Get on!

Hold on tight to me. Very tight!

[music intensifies]

-[Tochtli] Where we going? -Get down.

Run over there to the staircase.

You have to go first.

It's important that they see you.

Go up, up, up.

[music subsides]

-Run! -Where to?

Over there. Over there. Run!

-[music fades out] -[Alotl] Pascual! Pascual!

-Pascual! -[Pascual] ¡Señora!

-Hi, ma'am, do you need something? -No, no, thank you.

-Let's go, there's no time. Let's go. -[Alotl] Run.

[fireworks banging]

[doors shut, engine starts]

[poignant music playing]

[music fades out]

-[gentle applause] -[woman whooping]

[chuckles] Okay. Now this one is from us.

-What is it? -Todd.

Todd, don't be so anxious.

Todd.

-Do you like it? -[Tochtli] Yes. Thank you.

Maybe we can… build it together.

Here. Open mine next.

-It's a football. -I know.

Can we go play outside?

[woman] Todd, it's not your birthday. It's Timmy's.

[sighs softly] This is the last gift. It's from Paula.

-[Tochtli] Paula Wig? -Yeah.

[Tochtli] Ooh!

[poignant music playing]

-[Todd] Ha-ha-ha, whoa. -[man] Nice!

-[woman] Lemme take a picture. -[Todd] You look nice.

[doorbell rings]

[man] Whoa, whoa, boys! This another gift for Timmy?!

[deliveryman] It's heavy.

[man] Nice.

-Hey, boys, come on. Watch your step. -[deliveryman] Yep.

[man] Boys, give the deliverymen a little space, would you?

Hey, here we come.

Looking good.

Come on back. Come on back. Nice.

Boys, please be careful.

-[Todd] What is it? -[woman] We don't know yet.

[man] Uh, did we order something else?

Not sure.

[Mexican fanfare]

-[man] Oh my God. -[woman] Oh my God.

[man] What the hell is that?

Imagine the worst, and you'll be right.

-[man] Was-- Is that real? -[woman] Don't touch it, Todd.

["El Sinaloense" by Banda La Recia playing]

[music ends]

[somber classical music playing]

[music stops]