LUIS ESTRADA'S "THE DEAD GIRLS"
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY JORGE IBARGÜENGOITIA
No!
DECEMBER 8, 1962
GUADALAJARA AT NIGHT
A LIFE
Since the day he was born,
life had always been difficult for Beto. Full of struggle and misfortune.
One of those boys born with a chip on his shoulder and a mind of his own.
- A mischievous rebel.
But he was my pride and joy and the apple of my eye.
When I think about it…
I have not an ounce of doubt that my son's fate was written in the stars.
Humberto, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the…
When I met Beto's father, Humberto Paredes,
I was young and inexperienced.
The bastard was a traveling salesman who took advantage of my innocence
and made a fool of me.
By the grace of God, it turned out I have a good head for business.
And from that day on,
I decided I would provide for Beto and ensure that he lacked for nothing.
May he have a good upbringing and be a good child of God, amen.
Don't be so cruel, Beto, honey, you're going to hurt the poor thing.
- Shut your fucking mouth, Skeleton!
- Come here, little shit. - Ah! No!
- Your fucking filthy mouth! - Ow! Ow!
I tried to raise that boy the same way that I had been raised,
with manners and respect,
and if necessary, a solid spanking and cussing out.
I wanted that little weasel to learn the difference between right and wrong.
Skeleton. Take him back to the house.
But my biggest fear was that his childhood would be tainted by how we lived.
Always surrounded by whores, bouncers and drunks.
Come here! Now! I have orders!
Quickly!
I forbid you from telling my son what services customers come in here for.
I don't want you walking around half naked or using foul language.
And if he asks what you do, you say that you're students
and you're just passing through.
Understood?
Understood. - Now go get ready!
Come on! Don't make me go! No!
"DAMIAN CARMONA" BOARDING SCHOOL
No! No!
- I don't want to! I don't want to! - Enough! You're going, Beto!
Don't embarrass me in front of these ladies.
- No! I don't want to! - You're gonna have a lot of fun
- and make friends, you'll see! - I don't want to! No! No!
- No! Mama! - Take him.
- Mama! Mama! Mama!
The headmistress at school asked me to bring him home, and to give this note.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
What's making you cry, honey? Hm?
"Miss Baladro, the school's administration
kindly requests that you enroll your son in another school."
"It's an unfortunate reality
that your reputation and the nature of your enterprise
are hindering Humberto's education."
"I have enclosed the 30 pesos you paid for his enrollment. Thank you."
Ah, Skeleton.
No matter how hard I try, nothing ever works out for this kid.
Because those people are full of shit, ma'am.
Is it our little Beto's fault that he was born into a place like this? Hm?
Take him to the bar. Huh?
Come, little one.
HOLY BIBLE
Here you are.
I have a question.
Are you a whore?
- Yes, honey. - Hm.
Is my mother one of those too?
No, my darling, she's a madam.
- Did you dry your tears? - Whore madam.
Ah!
What do I do?
Things are just getting worse for my boy.
As much as it breaks my heart, I know he can't stay here with us.
He's sly as a fox and already understands what's going on.
It might be bad luck to say this,
but I'm afraid he's destined to bring you much heartache, Ms. Arcángela.
I'll go now.
I thought the best thing would be to keep him far from my work.
So I sent him to boarding school with the Marian Priests in Cuévano.
It cost me a small fortune,
but I was determined that he study to become a doctor and have a better life,
no matter the cost.
In my office now, the five of you!
But Beto's plans always contradicted mine,
and that was my cross to bear.
Your classmates told me you've been extorting money from them,
and that you charge one peso a week for protection.
Never mind that I caught you corrupting their young minds
with this filthy magazine.
I'm also told that whoever doesn't want to pay you
receives a visit from Mr. Carras, who you refer to as "Mr. Gorilla."
You're a hopeless cause, Mr. Paredes Baladro.
The minute you leave my office, I'm advising your mother
that I have expelled you.
Now go and pack your things.
That's how it always was with him, one school after another.
I started to believe it was God punishing me for my sins.
But we finally made it to the end of high school.
And with a lot of effort and a lot of money,
he was admitted to medical school.
- A Spaniard and an Indian gives "Mestizo".
A "Lobo" with an Indian is "Amarazado".
From a Black and a mulatto comes "Zambo".
And a Black and a monkey is Beto.
Silence!
- Nobody insults Beto.
Let's see you make fucking jokes now, asshole.
Paredes! Paredes!
- You don't need to worry, it's settled.
Only this time it's not only the judges and witnesses.
You'll also have to pay medical costs.
And 5,000 pesos for them to drop the charges.
Goodness. I think it might have been a lot cheaper if my Beto had killed that idiot.
Be thankful that we're dealing with people who'll settle for so little.
If this kid was rich,
Beto would be on his way to a five-year sentence for attempted murder.
POLICE STATION CUEVANO
Beto!
What I recommend, Ms. Arcángela,
is that you send Beto off to live in America for a little while.
Your son has a record now.
If he gets in trouble again, I'm not sure we'll get him out.
- I'm at your service. - Thank you for everything.
After I shipped my Beto off to Los Angeles,
I wrote him a letter every week sending him my love and motherly advice.
To sleep with his feet facing south to ward off the Evil Eye,
not to walk barefooted so he wouldn't get rheumatism, things like that.
- But he rarely wrote me back.
And when he did, it was only to ask for money.
And like an idiot, I would send the cash.
I was ignoring my own mother's words: money is the worst corruptor of youth.
But what else could I do?
He was my son, and I had faith that the gringos would change him.
And those sons of bitches certainly did.
FEBRUARY 20, 1959
I want you to scrub extra hard in the corners
because it's getting too dusty over there.
Afternoon, madam!
Beto!
Ah!
Oh, my baby! Ah!
- The boss is smiling. Look how much you've grown!
- And you're even more handsome.
When I sent you to America, you were just a boy and…
And now, you turned into
- a grown man!
Come. Bring your case.
You must be hungry.
Mm.
- Thanks, Skeleton.
- Mm. - Tell me everything.
Was America good to you? Was Los Angeles nice?
Ah…
Not always.
But it was very good to me.
Mm…
I made contacts, through friends that I met recently
who asked me to start a seed business.
I don't have money, so I need a loan to get started.
What kind of seeds?
Uh… All kinds of flowers and some fertilizers.
With 10,000 I should be good to go.
Isn't that a lot?
Mama.
It's a loan.
Listen.
I swear to you that I'll repay you as soon as I can.
I always wanted you to be a doctor, but this is good.
You'll get the 10,000.
- Beto, honey. - Mm.
I'm so proud of you, you have no idea.
- I'll go unpack my bags. - Mm.
When Beto told me he was going to open a business,
I felt very happy.
I even got my hopes up that everything I'd invested in his education
hadn't been in vain.
But I was such an idiot, and I never suspected
what kind of business he was getting involved in.
Beto repaid the 10,000 I'd lent him
and bought himself a brand-new car.
I was so proud of my son,
thinking how he'd turned out to have a good head for business.
SEEDS AND FERTILIZERS DEPOT
'Sup, Pancho? Not so much, boss.
How are sales? - Eh.
But one damned day, Captain Bedoya showed up,
and that's how I learned the truth.
We're not open yet, sir.
I'm looking for Ms. Arcángela Baladro.
You're making this up! You're a lying asshole!
I know you think your son's an innocent angel,
but he is up to his sweet ass, mixed up in some heroin trafficking business.
I'm here because I have proof and a warrant for his arrest.
I can't believe this.
My sweet baby's selling heroin.
Guillomar, you're going to head to Mezcala
to a town called San Pedro de las Corrientes
to look into some bastard who's mixed up with local farmers and poppy fields.
NOVEMBER 27TH, 1962 MEXICO CITY, FEDERAL DISTRICT
We're getting pressure from the gringos.
- So we need to get them something pronto. - Understood.
We suspect that this guy's under the protection of the local authorities.
Under no circumstances do you speak to them directly.
- Understood, sir. - I expect to see results soon.
You'll get them.
We need to find out who told the army about our business.
Those assholes not only killed members of your families,
they burned our plants too.
And those fucking pigs knew exactly where to find them.
My colleagues want me to send them the head of this fucking traitor.
You got it?
we could have made an arrangement with the army without sacrificing anyone
and without losing the harvest.
I expect a name, motherfuckers.
Because if we don't find whoever turned on us soon,
he's not the only one whose head'll roll.
Beto! I need to talk to you about something serious.
We'll talk in the morning.
No, no, no, no. This can't wait until morning, son.
And you're going to have to hear me out. In the back.
Sit down.
I'm listening. What's so urgent?
I had a visit from an army captain earlier today,
and he told me that your business is involved in the drug trade.
You're close to going to prison.
How do I say this?
My business is none of yours.
You don't get involved in my dealings, and I stay out of yours.
Because running a whorehouse isn't particularly honorable, is it?
It's not about my honor, Beto. I don't want you be arrested.
You have to get back to Los Angeles before this gets any worse.
- I'm begging you to go. - Yeah, thanks, but I'm not going back!
Don't meddle in my affairs, all right?
I'm not a kid anymore, so keep your advice to yourself.
That day, my heart broke in two.
But I couldn't make him do what I wanted.
The only thing left for me to do was to pray to God nothing happened to my Beto.
But God had other plans.
MAIN HOTEL
Thank you.
Good afternoon. Your name? Hi.
Demetrio Guillomar.
- Occupation? - Uh, sales. I'm an insurance salesman.
Please sign here for me.
- Have a good day. Thank you. - Thanks.
FEDERAL INVESTIGATION FILE
Can I give you a ride, Conchita?
No, thank you. This is where I live.
All right. Another day.
- Mwah. - So long.
PARISH RECORDS OFFICE
I heard that Beto Paredes is the son of a brothel madam.
Apparently he stabbed one of his classmates in Cuévano.
He killed him and spent a few years in prison.
And even worse is that he smokes marijuana.
He's killed more than once and sells heroin.
Those are all lies.
He only approached me today, All he did was offer me a ride.
He had no bad intentions.
Maybe you're right, and it's just gossip.
But the one thing you cannot deny
is that his complexion's too dark and he's hideous.
He reminds me of Benito Juárez if Benito was a criminal.
Evelia!
- Go keep that man company. - Right away.
I think that guy is suspicious.
Is he new around here?
I can smell Capital police all over him.
The bastard can sniff around all he wants.
We'll have to watch him and find out what fucking business he has here.
Tell me something, honey.
Do you know a Humberto Paredes?
That's Beto.
I noticed he's, uh, in and out of here a lot.
Because the madam here is his mother.
This is where he lives.
So he doesn't work here, then? Do you know what he does?
No, I don't. The boss has her rules.
And her Beto has always been off limits. She doesn't want us around her son.
- Hm. - You know we're on the clock, right?
I'm happy to talk to you.
Only you won't get what you paid for.
I'll shut up, then. Mm.
Evelia!
What did he want?
He asked why Beto comes in and out of here so much.
And did I know what his job is.
And what the fuck did you answer?
That you're his mother, and he lives here.
Go take care of customers, now!
Get in, Conchita! Today's the day. We'll go to Muérdago for ice cream.
I can't get in your car, Beto.
My mother says the day I get in the car with a male suitor
is the day I am no longer a virgin.
Is it all right if we walk in the park instead?
Mm-hm.
Good.
Truth is I decided not to be a doctor because it… wasn't for me.
I was meant to run a business.
And mine is going well.
- By the looks of your car, I'd say so.
Or did you get it financed?
No, it's paid for. I paid all in cash.
I'm not one to owe people money.
I don't mean to offend you, but people say not-so-nice things about you.
On the Virgin Mary, you can't believe any of those liars.
Those people are jealous.
You know this place runs on gossip and rumors.
You know it.
Don't you?
Argh!
Beto. I need to talk to you about something urgent.
- Don't want to fucking hear it tonight. - It's important.
I said not tonight, Mama!
- It's a matter of life or death! - I said no, dammit!
That was the last time I saw my Beto alive.
Since that day, I've been wondering if it was God who gave me my son
and called him back to Heaven,
or if he took away my son to punish the choice I made to run a brothel
and for how that business made me a ruthless bitch.
DECEMBER 8, 1962
Hey, Pancho!
- Go eat. I'll take over. Thank you.
How're you, Beto?
Good afternoon.
Agent Demetrio Guillomar.
- Federal Police.
- What brings you here? - Listen, Beto.
I'll be straight with you.
Our department's opened an investigation concerning your drug-related business.
My guess is they'll arrest your ass any day.
Agent Guillomar, I don't know how that rumor got started.
The only things I sell are seed and fertilizer.
That's what you tell your mother.
All of San Pedro knows what kind of seeds you sell.
Listen. I'm giving you an opportunity to get the hell out of Mezcala
before they arrest your ass.
I hear what you're saying.
What's the magic number?
That's for you to decide, Beto.
I don't know how much you value your freedom, do I?
That's 10,000.
Add five more.
And I give you 48 hours to get lost.
Fifteen.
You take care, Beto.
I said 48 hours.
But If I were you,
I'd go pack my bags now.
I'll never forgive you for treating me like a whore.
That wasn't my intention at all, Conchita. I lost control a second, I apologized.
I'm not sure you're sincere. I won't be disrespected, Beto.
I swear I won't touch you again until we get married.
Because that's what I want.
I want to make you my wife as soon as possible.
I promise, if you say yes,
we'll have a wedding in the church in Cuévano
and go to Acapulco for our honeymoon.
Can you see it yet? Promise me you'll think about it?
Yes.
Oh, Beto, I should've known better.
Those are my two brothers.
With what they just saw, I won't hear the end of it.
Get in there!
You're hurting me! That's enough!
You are forbidden from seeing that guy again, Conchita.
We know Beto's mother's run a brothel for years,
but the worst is he's a gangster who deals in very shady business.
You are not to be in touch with him. If he comes near you, it's gonna be bad.
I am old enough to decide, I don't need your permiss—
I hope we've made our position clear.
Who is it?
It's Pacheco.
What's going on?
How're you doing?
- Good, good.
And Paredes?
Is there any progress?
I've followed him since I got here, and so far not a thing.
But I did find out his mother runs the local brothel.
The brass is eager to see results.
They sent me with a copy of a warrant for Paredes.
Paper talks, let's go get him.
EL GALEÓN CANTEEN
That's our guy. Let's grab him and call it a night.
Guys, get a move on!
We better wait until he's alone.
What if the mariachis have guns and there's some kind of shoot-out?
- Beto!
No, Beto!
Go and get my sister now!
I think we just lost our fucking target, Pacheco.
Beto!
There's nothing for us to do here.
Come on, let's go.
Watch out. Watch out. Come on.
THE BAD NIGHT
Come! Come, come, Arcángela!
AMBULANCE
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
There's nothing to be done. I'm afraid the man is dead.
SHOTS FIRED AND MURDER AT MEXICO LINDO!
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HYPOTHESIZES A SETTLING OF ACCOUNTS BETWEEN DRUG DEALERS
I'm gonna ask all the ladies to get in line
'cause I have questions for each of you.
Name?
Juana Cornejo. But everyone here knows me as Skeleton.
Would you please tell me how and why the shooting occurred?
I'm afraid I can't answer that. He didn't get shot in here.
All right then, so where would you say he was shot?
How would I know? I only saw him fall dead on the floor.
Next, please.
Your name?
María del Carmen Regúles.
Occupation?
Prostitute.
Are you here by your own accord or is someone forcing you?
I choose to be here.
Next, please.
Name?
Aurora Bautista Mejía.
Occupation?
Prostitute.
Are you here by your own accord or is someone forcing you?
I'm here by my own accord.
Next, please.
Name?
Socorro Montes Ramírez.
Occupation?
Prostitute.
I want you to drink this. It will do you good.
Skeleton is organizing a Rosary prayer for Beto.
You want to join us?
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
My deepest sympathies, Serafina.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is…
- Thank you, Captain. - …thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God…
Do we know what happened to Beto, who killed your nephew?
We're trying to find out.
He came here with blood all over him and fell dead on the dance floor.
…pray for us sinners, now and…
- He was playing a very dangerous game. Amen.
It might be the police coming to arrest him,
or his associates sending a message.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Yes, that's my nephew, Beto, doctor.
If you could sign this, ma'am.
Thank you.
I'm truly sorry to hear about your nephew, Miss Serafina.
If you could extend my sincere condolences to your sister.
You know how I respect her.
Now, this is the document you need
to retrieve your nephew's body from the morgue.
You don't know how much we appreciate this.
Ah, what are friends for?
I do want to say there's a rumor going around that concerns you.
Apparently, the government wants to shut down México Lindo.
Beto wasn't shot on our property.
We've had everything in order since the start.
They haven't given a specific reason.
The only thing I know for sure is that the order came from the capital itself.
- Straight from the top.
Can they really shut down our business like that without any warning?
We'll have to wait and find out.
But if the shutdown order isn't based on concrete findings,
then I don't see why the authorities would allow it.
It would be a direct violation of the State constitution.
My feeling is it's all just gossip.
The mayor is giving bad information to make himself look good.
Please let it be a rumor.
Because they've already closed Casa del Molino and Casino del Danzón.
We could never survive if they shut down Mexico Lindo on top of it.
My daughters, for the many years of friendship that bind us,
I have come to accompany you in this moment of great sorrow.
However, I cannot give benediction to one who has lived in sin
- and died with no sign of repentance.
- Let us pray in silence for his salvation.
- Show mercy and accept him.
My Beto! My Beto!
- Oh… - Oh.
- No! No! No! - Come now. Arcángela!
No!
Good afternoon. Ms. Arcángela Baladro?
Yes, she's my sister.
- How can I help you? - Pleased to meet you.
I have documents addressed to you from the Capital, Fourth Court.
It's an order requiring the indefinite closure,
and revocation of all the permits for operating the México Lindo.
B… but why are you shutting us down if we have all our permits?
Uh, it's all in the order.
The closure and the eviction notice contain all the details,
but I can tell you that the violations are all closely related to health and hygiene.
And to the killing that occurred here.
You have a maximum of 24 hours to obey and shut this down,
or you will be escorted out by the local police.
Can I get your signature?
May I remind you ladies that you have 24 hours from this moment,
and not one minute more.
Excuse us.
I believe we can file for an injunction to overturn the shutdown order.
But unfortunately, it's a lengthy procedure.
And also a very pricey one.
And how much time do you think it would take to get the injunction?
Well… it depends on the judges we get.
But I think it could take a month. Uh, two at most.
- We still have to obey the order? - We have no choice but to leave.
The order is very clear.
And if by tomorrow you haven't vacated the bar and the lodging,
the public police are going to come and force you out.
And there's nothing anyone can do about that.
I'll go.
I'll prepare the injunction request for you.
The faster we get it before the courts,
the faster you'll be able to get back into business.
I'll be in touch.
What do we do, Captain?
I'm starting to think it's a fucking curse.
I suggest you and your sister start thinking about another profession.
That idiotic Morality Law in Plan de Abajo
and this shutdown have ruined anything to do with prostitution.
I know we'll save the business.
Only right now, we need to figure out our next move.
And where are you going to put them all up? Hm? In a hotel?
I can't afford that! It'd cost a fortune.
We have to do something fast.
Because that agent was very clear that we have to be out tonight.
I think I have a solution, as long as it doesn't have to be legal.
What do you think of going back to the casino?
The casino's closed, what good would that do us?
But it fits all of us, and we left it intact.
I even have an idea for us to get inside without breaking the seals or the locks.
Coming.
Sorry to bother you, Mrs. Benavides.
I know it's late, but we need a bit of a favor.
Ah, don't worry about it.
I always hoped you and your sister would return.
Uh, what can I do for you?
They're allowing us back in the casino, but our lawyer doesn't have the papers.
- Ah. - We aren't allowed to break seals
or remove any locks.
- No. - Would it be possible
to let us up on your roof so we can spend the night in the casino?
Ah, please do whatever you want.
If that's all you need to do, well, mm, I don't see any problem.
Thank you.
Girls! Come on!
Help her.
Listen up, girls. Until we figure out exactly how we're going to do this,
I expect you all to make the best of it.
You'll be two or three in a room, and we'll go from there.
Are you going to give us something to eat, Miss Serafina?
We're all hungry.
We don't have any food here, Rosa.
Tomorrow we'll feed you. Now go upstairs.
Come on, go to bed.
Come on, let's get you up to bed.
Skeleton's back.
What's in the bags? What did you bring?
- Can you form a line?
I want you in a line, or I'm not going to feed you.
Order, ladies, order, please!
One at a time. You each get one, you get one.
Here you go. Just one.
I have enough for all of you. Please don't be rude.
How about there?
Ah.
Here we are.
Some nice tea. Ah.
I'd like to work out an arrangement with you,
until we've sorted out when they'll let us break the seals.
Mm. I will do whatever is in my power to help you.
What we were hoping you might be able to do until we resolve our problem
is let us open the wall to put in a door that would let us come in and out
and temporarily connect our power to your power.
So a door that would pass through your brothel to my house?
All paid for generously in cash for your troubles.
Do you have a specific number in mind?
I mean, not that I don't want to help, but with my old age,
and the peanuts I get from my pension, I'm nearly in the poor house.
Would you consider 200 a month for the comings and goings,
and 20 more for using your power?
I'm inclined to think 300 for the entrance fee and 50 for power is good.
I think that's fair, Ms. Benavides, and much better than the roof.
I think our dear Captain Bedoya can attest it's more than fair.
Why don't we have something stronger? Mm?
It's a special occasion, I'd say.
I won't give you too much, because it's rather strong.
Don't mind if I do.
As agreed.
The Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost.
THE SECRET LIFE
Hurry up, Ticho. Hm.
I'm finished with putting in the doors.
Perfect, Ticho.
Uh… - See you soon.
Ms. Serafina, I wanted to ask, how do—
Have some.
Arcángela.
You really need to eat something.
You've been like this for a week.
I really need you to come back
because I'm not able to manage the house and the girls without you.
Poor thing won't eat or sleep.
She just lies in bed like a ghost, holding Beto's picture.
And I'm starting to worry about Rendón, since he seems to have disappeared.
I've already told you that lawyer was useless.
You need to forget about this business
and get to selling these girls off while you still can.
Life can be such a monstrous bitch when it wants to, don't you think?
If you told me that our lives would've been turned upside down
and we'd go through these hardships, I would've laughed.
The only option you have is to act fast.
You can't keep supporting this bunch of girls,
especially if they're not going to turn a profit.
Letting them go could cost us a fortune, Captain.
I'm still hoping to hear from Rendón.
And if he doesn't have an answer for us soon, then we'll take measures.
During the first days back at the casino
and her sister was catatonic with grief,
Miss Serafina took it all on her shoulders.
She decided that in order not to attract the neighbors' attention,
only Rosa and Lupe would be allowed to help me with the shopping.
And the others would remain inside the walls.
MRS. BARBARA TORTILLA SHOP
Morning. What can I get you?
We'll take 12 kilos of tortillas and six of masa, please, sir.
Have you ladies gotten the casino reopened, then?
No. Praise the Lord, we've left that trade, sir.
Luckily Ms. Benavides needed help, so we work for her now, right, girls?
DECEMBER 19, 1962
I'm so hungry, Skeleton.
Ms. Arcángela, sit down.
Sit over there, I'll make you something.
What's all this food?
This is a lot of food, how much did it cost?
I'm not sure how much we've spent since we got here, ma'am.
Ms. Serafina's in charge of the accounts. She gives me the shopping list.
I think my idiot sister is throwing our good money down the drain.
We don't run a hotel.
From now on, I decide. You will buy what I put on the list and nothing else.
Yes, boss, whatever you say.
Look at these good-for-nothing girls.
Like tiny birds that hatched out of their fucking shells,
with beaks open wide just waiting for us to feed them for free.
You need to work. Get busy doing something useful instead of lounging.
We can't keep this up with all these mouths to feed.
We're going to go bankrupt if we don't find a solution soon.
As of today's date, the amount the girls owe us comes out to half a million pesos.
Between what they already owed and everything it's costing us to be here,
we'll be broke before we know it.
Why don't we sell a few to help us get through?
We'll do that, of course. But we also have to cut costs elsewhere.
Until we get them back to making us money,
the only thing these sloths get to eat is tortillas and beans.
So, I was thinking, if we put some money into buying ourselves a ranch,
we could have our own livestock.
First things first, though.
We'll sell some of the girls, and then we'll look at a ranch.
We'll start by selling off ten,
and we'll try to hang on to the rest.
God willing, we'll need them to reopen the Mexico Lindo.
Sirenio, we're not here for the ice cream.
My ten girls are ready, you want them or not?
I don't know, Arcángela.
I'm willing to take the whole lot,
but the merchandise isn't worth what you're asking.
I can't go that high.
Don't try that trick, Sirenio.
My girls at 1,500 each is a favor.
Our girls work, don't cause trouble, they're very clean.
They'll be good for many more years of work to recoup your investment.
Mm. Why're you selling them, then? Hm?
I just explained we had a complication at the México Lindo, asshole.
But enough already.
Give me 1,000 per girl like last time.
I'm tired of arguing with an idiot like you.
I'll give you this much, Arcángela, you're a stubborn one.
We have a deal.
I'm going to give you the 1,000 per girl right here, huh?
The entire amount up front, because I don't want you coming back
with some story or some excuse for raising your price.
When the sisters decided to sell the ten girls,
it was a great relief to those of us staying in the house.
Ms. Arcángela, who had never been anyone's fool,
unloaded the worst of the bunch onto Mr. Sirenio.
That way she got rid of the troublemakers and the uglier ones.
Thank you.
Take care of them.
Off we go.
After that, each of us had our own room and a little bit more to eat.
In spite of that, the sisters' luck continued to downward spiral.
Listen, counselor, you told us
we would only be out of the Mexico Lindo for a month or two.
And after seven months, and the fortune we've spent, you've gotten us nowhere.
- I'm starting to think you're playing us. You have to be patient.
I've submitted three complaints
arguing that the closure of Mexico Lindo is unconstitutional and blatant abuse.
I hope for your sake you're right.
Because as you must know, our current situation is not sustainable.
Our ultimate recourse would be to appeal to the governor himself.
Whatever you need to do, do it.
Go to the governor, and if that doesn't work, then the president.
If you have to grease some palms, make sure they're the right ones,
because we need our business back to normal.
Thank you for agreeing to see me, Mr. Sanabria.
I don't want to take up too much of your time,
uh, but my clients, Ms. Arcángela and Serafina Baladro,
are rather desperate.
And they asked me to come to you to see if it's at all possible
to explain their situation to our esteemed governor.
As you can see in the documents I have,
I have tried everything I can think of to obtain an injunction.
But for one reason or another,
every single one of my attempts was rejected, despite the fact that
no legal reason exists for my clients' business to have been shut down.
I'm going to be frank with you.
There're many reasons why your requests for an injunction have failed,
but they don't carry any weight.
Because the only reason for the refusal that matters
is the governor is entirely against
business of this nature operating in his jurisdiction.
Mr. Secretary— - Allow me to continue, counselor.
I had the personal misfortune of attending
a grand opening of one of their brothels in Plan de Abajo.
I will admit that I was extremely shocked
by the immoral and shameful spectacle to which we were exposed.
You should already know this.
So if you want some free advice, there's no use in insisting,
because neither you nor anyone by the name Baladro will reopen a thing.
Don't take this personally, counselor,
but the governor and I need to discuss important matters.
Have a nice day.
- Thanks for your time. - Of course.
It's a question of politics, I'm afraid, ladies.
And unfortunately, there's nothing we can do. Our hands are tied.
You're a fucking, useless leech, Rendón.
Why did you string us along? We bled ourselves dry for this nonsense.
How was I supposed to know that this whole problem goes back to all that transpired
at the casino opening?
It's all to try to protect Sanabria's pride.
What fucking pride?
The Secretary's a fucking faggot who's embarrassed and wants revenge.
What options do we have, then?
Working all my life to provide quality girls
to be shut down by a man who won't even fuck one?
Give me a suggestion before we go under.
Sell a house, of the three you own.
For the time being, you'd only be able to sell Casa del Molino.
Then please get it off our hands.
We'll start with selling Casa del Molino.
And we'll use the profits to open another business we've been considering.
I did own the Los Angeles Ranch before I sold it to the Baladro sisters.
I had a large debt but no money to pay it.
That's why I decided to sell a part of my properties,
and I explained that to several people.
Mr. Reyna.
Captain Hermenegildo Bedoya, thanks for coming.
It's my pleasure, Captain.
- Please, have a seat. - Thank you.
One of my associates told me you're interested in the Los Angeles Ranch.
Not me personally, but I have some very good clients who are quite interested.
I'm not one to beat around the bush, I'd like to get the cards on the table.
How much would you give me in commission if I seal the deal for that ranch
in five minutes?
Holy shit.
How do you feel about 10%?
Waiter!
A bottle of brandy, a good one.
I was just informed that a man in Concepción has a ranch in this area
and is looking to sell it quickly.
I think it's an opportunity you can't pass up.
Why does he want to sell his ranch?
Because he's drowning in debt, why else?
He's willing to let it go for less than half value.
This is the bargain of all bargains.
What do you think, Arcángela?
Maybe, but I want a look first.
Make sure it's in decent condition, and to make sure we can do something with it.
Great minds think alike.
Radomiro is the seller's name. I'll get in touch with him so you can take a look.
And you.
Well, this is the Los Angeles Ranch, Ms. Baladro.
Welcome.
Obviously the buildings need to be put back in decent condition.
I thought there would be cattle here.
I had to sell off the cattle, Ms. Arcángela.
But with a little bit of repairs, some elbow grease,
and a couple of coats of paint, this will look good as new.
I'm already regretting putting it up for sale.
Come, come. I'll show you the property.
- But I swear to you,
that when I signed the deed over that day,
I had not the slightest idea who they were,
nor what kind of business they'd been running.
I never imagined what use they would make of the ranch after they bought it,
nor the crimes and atrocious acts those ladies would commit there.
It's all there, counselor.
- 150,000 pesos as we agreed.
Well, if the seller confirms it's all there, my job here is complete.
Congratulations on your new purchase.
You may come by my office in two weeks to pick up your deeds.
Thank you very much, counselor.
Always a pleasure.
When the army captain and the two women had left the room,
the notary, who was familiar with them,
told me who they were and what they did for a living.
But it was too late to cancel the sale.
The documents had all been signed, and I had all that cash in my hands.
As I was desperate, I had no other choice.
When my husband and I received the letter from my sisters
that proposed for us to come and take over the ranch they'd just purchased,
we thought of it as a blessing.
Teófilo and I were going through a rough patch, and money was scarce.
We were nearing the poor house.
We didn't ask any questions.
We packed up the few things we hadn't sold
and we made our way to Concepción de Ruiz.
As you can see, Teófilo, there's a lot that needs doing.
Tell me how much it will cost to get this ready as soon as possible.
I'll prepare a budget.
It's obvious that there's quite a lot of repairs needed,
but I agree with you, the property is full of possibilities.
In that space over there, I want you to plant a patch of marigolds.
I'll bring some to Beto's grave on the Day of the Dead.
- Come, I'll show you. Uh-huh.
The first time we came to the ranch,
the place struck me as very lonely.
And all of that loneliness was going to become an important part of our tragedy.
There's much that needs repairing, Arcángela.
The water pump is the one that's the most pressing.
Then getting the power back on. Then I can work on the house, and the barn.
I'll need to hire farmhands to help with the cattle and the planting.
You put together a very good plan, Teófilo.
But I can't approve the expenses all at once.
That's a lot of money.
I'll send it to you little by little, and you'll decide what to do first. Come.
I got you something that I know you're going to need sooner or later.
Okay, Ladder. Open the trunk.
This place is crawling with thieves, I hear.
Now that we're going to buy cattle, I'll need you to keep them safe.
So if you see someone trying to steal them,
you put a bullet or two in that asshole, huh?
Serafina, I want to get on the road before dark.
We'll see you soon.
God bless you, Arcángela.
See you soon. Serafina.
We'll see you, Teófilo.
My sisters gave my husband money little by little.
But it was less than half of what he needed.
Teófilo did the best he could, but there was never enough for the cattle.
Instead of buying us the things we most needed,
it was the godforsaken rifle they gave us that would be our downfall.
Lord, bless this ranch that from this day forward…
JULY 14, 1963
…shall be known as Los Angeles Ranch.
Please bless this house, and these lands.
- Bless the cattle.
But above all, Father,
bless all of these good and pious daughters of yours.
- Amen. Amen.
Go, go! Pass it! Pass it to Serafina!
Come on, ladies, everyone get up and dance!
Come on, get up and dance! Dance!
Despite the fact that we were in the mood
on the day we had a party to celebrate the opening of the ranch,
it was also a clear sign of our fall from grace.
Instead of the congressmen, secretaries, and mayors,
union leaders and bank managers who had come to the grand opening of the casino,
the Baladro sisters were celebrating with low-level army men,
bouncers, drivers, and whores like us.
Now, stay still.
Ready?
But that wasn't the worst of our misfortunes.
Because only three days after the ranch party, Blanca died.
And she was the first of the whores that the newspapers started calling:
The Dead Girls.
THREE DAYS LATER, BLANCA DIED.