01x05 - Paola

[bunniefuu]

SERIES INSPIRED BY REAL EVENTS.
THE EVENTS, PLACES AND CHARACTERS RELATED

TO THE HOMICIDE OF FRANCISCO STANLEY
ALBAITERO HAVE BEEN FICTIONALIZED

IN ORDER TO REPRESENT ONE OF THE MOST
CONTROVERSIAL AND WIDELY PUBLICIZED CASES

IN MEXICAN HISTORY. SOME OF THE NAMES
OF THE PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS STORY

HAVE BEEN CHANGED,
WHILE OTHERS HAVE BEEN RETAINED

IN THE EXERCISE OF THE RIGHT OF FREEDOM
OF EXPRESSION TO REPRESENT

A DRAMATIZED VERSION OF A STORY
IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

THE LEGAL TRUTH OF THIS STORY
IS CONTAINED IN OFFICIAL RECORDS

AND THE RESPECTIVE COURT DECISIONS.

Good evening, Mexico City
District Attorney, at your service.

Ready to give your statement?

Get ready, we're about to go live.

Paco was...

Charming. He was like you saw on TV.

But honestly, I never trusted him.

He envied us.

He had everything,
but at the same time he had nothing.

Brenda, open your eyes.

Every time you talk,
your words implicate you more.

I won't let them tear my family apart.

There's something else.

There's an inmate involving Mario

with a hitman called Cholo.

And a woman they call La Güera,

but no one knows who she is.

ON JUNE 7TH, 1999,

FAMOUS TV HOST
FRANCISCO STANLEY ALBAITERO WAS m*rder*d.

THIS IS A RECREATION OF THE CRIME

FROM THE PERSPECTIVE
OF SIX KEY CHARACTERS.

Paola Durante?

-Me.
-Come in.

Come on, girl, I don't have all day.

For casting? Sign in like the rest.
You're late.

What's your name, sweetheart?

Paola Durante.

Where are you from, Paola Durante?

Uruguay.

You barely have an accent.

Why?

I have been here in Mexico for many years.

Oh, that's good.

And what do you do?

Well, I'm an actress,

model and hostess.

You do know my show is
the most watched one in Mexico?

Of course, sir.

That's why I'm here.

Sir? She called me sir, Mario?

Do I look worn out?

Okay, tell me, what are your ambitions?

I want to have a career in television.

Like every girl here, honey.

Relax, Pao, don't be shy.

Can you sing?

No? Can you dance?

Dance? I mean, like this.

More or less.

Take off your jacket, honey, please.

Let's see your profile.

The other one.

Can you turn, honey?

-Okay.
-Let's see.

Give me a smile.

A smile, if it's not too much trouble.

There you go.

You're taking
those f*cking braces off, right?

Are you taking
that stupid f*cking face off?

That's not fair.

It's too early for...

Busting my ba*ls.

Thank you, ladies,
you made it really hard for us.

Pao! Pao, Pao, Pao!

What's wrong, honey?

Why are you angry?

Look, in this business,
if you get angry, you lose.

A little smile.

A little smile. A little smile.

You got the job.

-Really?
-Yes, you did.

You did, yes.

I'll be waiting for you
Monday at 5:00 a.m. sharp, okay?

Thanks, sir.

Congratulations.

Thanks.

I'd like to ask you a question.

Just kidding!

Marito!

THE FIGHT CLUB ARRIVES

Do you talk to your children?

Parrot dance!

VAN ARRIVES
MARIO SPENT 10 MINS IN RESTROOMS

Pay them!

Let me ask you a question.

Brenda.

Parrot dance!

Do you talk to your children?

Just kidding!

I'd like to ask you a question.

WHO k*lled HIM?

PAOLA
CHAPTER 5

Hello.

I'm Sergio García.

We're broadcasting live on national TV

from the women's correctional
at Santa Martha

with Paola Durante.

This young lady
has been imprisoned for over a year,

charged by the District Attorney's Office

with being one of the masterminds
behind the m*rder of Francisco Stanley.

Today, for the first time,

she gets the chance to tell us
completely uncensored...

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 17TH 2000
SERGIO GARCÍA - JOURNALIST

...her actual role in this drama.

-Hello, Paola.
-Hello, Sergio.

Thank you for coming.

How about we begin?

Yes.

What was your relationship
with Paco Stanley?

This man sent me a message again.

-What will you do?
-Play dumb.

Well, I didn't have a friendship with him,

it was a job.

Where were you, 15 minutes to pee?

Are you travelling to go pee?

To me, he was like...

Like an old man.

Like my dad.

Okay, we don't want you here
with a serious or sour face.

We want energy, smiles. The public
wants to have fun, not get depressed.

-Understood?
-May I give an opinion, sir?

Go ahead.

If we all come down those steps,

we get to the center
of these two cameras...

I didn't know she was the choreographer.

Let the girl speak.

We do the choreography you like,
with the twirl,

five, six, seven...

We stop in front of those two cameras.

And after that?

-No, that's it.
-No, that's it.

That's it, we'll do what blondie says.

Blondie, come on.

Okay, good job!

Bravo! Bravo! See?

This is what it's all about.

Taking the initiative, not fighting, okay?

Yes. Thanks, sir.

-Paco. Paco.
-Very well.

Paolita, did you get my page?

I didn't get anything. What did it say?

To get dinner with me.

I want to talk to you,
because I want to hear your ideas

for the new sections of the show.

I want to know what you have to offer,
because starting today,

you're my new chief hostess.

-What? You're not happy?
-Yes, yes, sir.

One of these days, I'd love to.

One of these days like today?

Think about it and let me know.

Mario!

Chikis, Chikis.

Chikis, I need a favor.

I have to go get Meli.

If Paco asks, can you tell him I was sick?

Yes, I'll tell him you threw up and left.

Okay, you're the best.

-I love you.
-Bye! Me, too.

You look beautiful.

-I have a surprise for you.
-Thanks.

-You need it, right?
-Yes.

-Oh.
-It's so strong.

Hey, I heard you'll be with Paco Stanley.

My dream of being famous is coming true!

They say he's very demanding,
so this is my last night of freedom!

Besides, I'm the new chief hostess.

I just want to take advantage of this.

Totally. Want some?

-Come on, just a bit.
-No.

No!

JUNE 7, 1999

I like this one, Chikis. Try it on.

Your pager is ringing.

How does this one look? What do you think?

You look pretty,
but the color is too serious.

-What?
-Remember it's a comedy show.

Try on the green one, okay?
We'll pick then.

-What is he writing?
-Wait.

What?

"Shot 24 times."

What?

Paco was m*rder*d.

Paco was m*rder*d.

I read "24 shots"
and I imagined a Hollywood movie.

And, were you sad about Paco?

Well, yes.

I did feel sad about Paco,

I knew him, I respected him.

But if I'm being honest, Sergio,

I felt much more sadness for myself.

And for my coworkers,
because we were all out of a job.

CARWASH

The weeks went by,

and I couldn't get a job.

After that,
I had to go back to the streets.

Girl, it's getting late
for the audition I told you about.

Can I leave you my load?

Yes, don't worry.

-Break a leg.
-Thanks, my friend.

Good luck.

I had lost my opportunity.

In the end, I only wanted to be
the pretty girl in the show.

You look pretty, Mom.

Let's go.

It keeps getting stuck.

Come fix this. You'll fix it, right?

Anybody seen my bag?

Let's see. Yes, honey,
it's under that jacket.

Can you babysit?

Yes, I can. Where are you going?

An audition for a soap opera.

-How do I look?
-You'll get it.

Dad, at least look at me.

Don't be late. Go.

-Cousin, bye.
-Mommy!

Princess.

Hey, guys.

Stand on the mark.

-Your name?
-Paola Durante.

Profiles. The other one.

We want you to be sexy, strong.
Let your eyes do the talking.

Valeria Cruz?

They loved it.

Really?

Didn't you see his eyes?

I've worked here for 15 years,

I've never seen him like that.

We'll call soon, princess.

Yes, but you'll call me, right?

Thanks a lot.

-Paola Durante.
-Don't touch me.

-What?
-Come with us.

Hey, but who? Go where?

To the DA's Office to declare
about Stanley's death.

I said everything I know!

-Lady, help me!
-Come on.

No, no, I don't want to.

-Get in.
-No!

Left profile.

Right profile.

Take four steps forward.

When can I leave?
I've been here for many hours.

I don't understand what's going on.

Be quiet. Respect the protocol.

What color are your eyes?

What?

-What color are your eyes?
-Green.

-Look blue to me.
-They're green.

-Your height?
-I'm 5'5.

Do you think we're stupid?

-What?
-Luis Gabriel Valencia identified you.

-Who?
-Flama.

The Amezcua's cook.

I don't know any cooks.

No? Well, he knows you.

He saw you go into the prison.

I've never been to a prison in my life.

Why is your name in the logbook, then?

-No.
-You spoke to Luis Amezcua there.

-Luis Amezcua? Who is he?
-Luis Amezcua.

Luis Amezcua. The drug lord.

The king of amphetamines.

The drug lord?

He said you went several times
to prison with Mario.

The cook confirmed it.

He saw you conspiring.

You do know Mario, right?

I do know Mario,
but I've never seen him outside of work.

Do you know what our friend Mario told us?

That you convinced him to k*ll Stanley.

k*ll him? That's a mistake.

I would never do that.

Are you Mario's lover?

No, I'm not anyone's lover.

Don't play dumb.

You f*cked him so he'd call the hitmen
and tell them where Stanley was.

I swear I didn't.

Paola Durante Ochoa,

you're under arrest for collusion
in the m*rder of Francisco Stanley.

Let go of me! No!

Let me go!

Let me go!

No, no! Let me go! No!

In the Stanley case,

Paola Durante was arrested today.

She was a hostess in Stanley's show

{\an8} and alleged liaison
between Mario Bezares

{\an8} and drug dealers Luis Amezcua
and Erasmo "Cholo" Pérez Garnica.

Today, Paola was charged with collusion
in the m*rder of the renowned comedian.

m*rder*r! You're a m*rder*r!

Public opinion is split
between those who believe she's guilty

and those who fully support the hostess.

I was very scared,
because half the prisoners

admire you for being famous...

Hello.

But the other half,
want vengeance for k*lling Paco.

Listen, I'm innocent, okay?

Well, I'm guilty, okay?

Me too, okay?

We're all guilty here, okay?

I'm not.

I'm Sara Aldrete, and I'm innocent too.

You'll sleep there,
you'll be the floor manager.

If any of us gets released,

you can have a bunk.

Thank you.

You're very kind,
but I won't be here long.

Cousin! Thanks a lot for my cake,
it's my favorite.

So yummy.

-How are you, cousin?
-Fine.

Missing you.

Me too.

How's Meli?

You told her I'm at the hospital, right?

Yes, as we agreed.

But she's dying to see you.

But I can't see her in here.

Don't you bring her here.

Please.

Honestly, I was in bad shape.

I didn't want my family
to see me like this.

Let alone my daughter.

Cousin.

I don't know how much longer
I can stand being in here.

I feel very lonely.

I try to talk to my cellmates,
but they ignore me.

You k*lled Paco, right?

I don't speak to anyone.

-Now you'll feel what he felt.
-No! Let me go!

Let me go!

I never leave the cell.

Help me.

Cousin,

we're trying, but it's not easy.

I'm seeking advice, but...

You know that's not my specialty,
I'm a corporate lawyer.

We don't have any money,
and my cousin Lucía,

who had just graduated,
had to act as my lawyer.

Listen, cousin.

Something else that's important.

Before I got here, I had an audition.

And I did very well.

Did they call back?

No, I don't know if they called.

I can ask, if you want.

-What a gossip.
-You can't play.

I haven't had cigarettes in five days.

That's why you're alone.

Not like Chupis, who is marrying Rubí.

Rubí is out of this world.

And Chupis isn't?

Intergalactic love.

They say Chupis is getting out.

That's what bad mouths say.

And the good ones?

Hey, can two women get married here?

No, what do you think?

Even if Chupis would love it.

Well, this is it.

There's no more paint,
there's no more art.

-Get some.
-Get some.

My family was doing
all they could to get me out,

but it wasn't going to be soon.

So, I decided I'd try to fit in.

Lucía?

Hello.

How are you?

How's Meli?

And my parents?

Hey, I need a favor.

Can you get me some cans of paint?

Don't ask, I'll tell you later.

Remember that wedding cord
from our aunt's wedding we saved?

Chupis, Rubí, will you love each other
for better and for worse,

until death or freedom do you part?

Yes.

I pronounce you wife and wife!

-Kiss! Kiss!
-Kiss! Kiss!

Hey.

Do you know what Sara's in for?

It's rude to ask that.

She's de Narco Satanist.
Haven't you heard about it?

Like ten or 15 years ago.

She says she didn't do anything,
that she was forced to do sh*t.

But she was into satanism.

They showed on TV
all the people they k*lled.

Doesn't she dance?

Sara is so Sara.

I'll be right back.

Mail!

González.

Pech.

Moreno.

Durante.

Mail.

No!

All of them for me?

-Honey, let's see.
-They're all for me.

May I have one? Nobody writes to me.

-All of those.
-All of them.

Let's read this one. "Dear Paola,

I've been following you since you were
my favorite in Pacorro And Then Some.

I know you're innocent.

Don't lose hope.

Many of us root for you.
Your heart is infinite."

Look.

You're popular.

Hey, was Paco a sex maniac?

Or like they say, small-dicked...
Yeah, small and crazy-dicked.

Well, he was a man.

He was also very demanding,
very professional.

In our industry, we have to be like that.

But once you are...

in front of the cameras,
with all the spotlights,

in wardrobe,
with the audience cheering on you,

everything's worth that single chance.

Read it to me.

Durante!

Visitor!

Mommy!

You're so big!

You look beautiful.

Come.

Is this your hospital?

Yes, something like that.

Are you feeling better?

After seeing you,

of course I feel better.

Honey, do you want a popsicle?

Yes? Look,
that lady over there sells them.

Go buy one, okay?

She insisted so much.

How could we say no?

I only asked for one thing.

Not to bring her here.

I'm sorry.

Cousin, we're getting nowhere.

I spoke to the press,
and sought advice from other lawyers.

They have witnesses who identified you.

Yes, but I don't know those witnesses.

Of course they'd identify me,

they saw me on TV.

We're going to the Human Rights Commission
for them to rule on the case.

What will that do?

Nobody cares about human rights in here.

Look.

Your case is full of irregularities.

They detained you under false pretenses,

put you in a lineup alone,

they did everything wrong.

You shouldn't be here one more day.

If the Commission rules
you're innocent, then...

there's good chance they'll release you.

Investigations are ongoing
to find the culprits in the Stanley case,

Mario Rodríguez and Paola Durante.

They are still imprisoned,

while the authorities try
to clear up the facts.

They were both close to the comedian.

Uncle, she can't be watching this.

Yes?

Is this Paola Durante's lawyer?

Who's asking?

I can't tell you my name,

but I have
sensitive information on the case.

I will contact you later.

Over here!

Lucía!

Don't be scared, girl!

How are you? Take a seat, please.

Do you smoke?

No, thanks.

I don't have much time,
but you need to know this.

It's a lot of information,
so if you get lost, let me know.

I'm a journalist
for a pretty important newspaper.

Left-wing.

I won't tell you the name,
because they won't print any of this.

Why? Because they're chickens.

There's a plot very up high
to leave Paola in prison.

She's your cousin?

Yes, and she's innocent.

That's obvious.

I was certain the charges
against Paola were the result

of a row between TV networks
and the District Attorney.

You know, a power struggle between them.

They used her to hit the networks

for attacking the government
and their candidate.

What I didn't know

was how dangerous this crime was
for the power.

Listen to this.

The charges against Paola
are based on a guy's testimony,

the Amezcua's cook.

Gabriel Valencia.

Valencia claims he saw Paola
visiting the Amezcua brothers.

-Hello.
-What's up, blondie?

Drug dealers
to whom Paco owed money, allegedly.

Do you know how you'll convince
Mario to cooperate?

Trust me.

He'll cooperate.

During her visits,

according to the DA,

they arranged the m*rder.

A few weeks ago,

a cassette appeared

in the mailbox of the newspaper I work at.

It has a conversation
between an inmate and a cop.

Okay, tell me about blondie again.

In the tape, the inmate says
there's another blonde woman.

Another former hostess
from Paco Stanley's show.

Her name was Rosaura Vidal.

Colombian.

She had a boyfriend
she visited often in prison.

How are you, my love?

You know, these m*therf*ckers.

They're all jackals.

That blond, Rosaura,

is the one identified in Paco's m*rder.

She was linked to
the three th*gs who stole the car

that was given to the hitmen
to do the crime.

When the three were detained,
they asked if they knew her,

only one admitted to it.

Let him see.

Does she look like her?

Answer!

Answer, f*ck!

Another anonymous source

told us the motive
for Paco Stanley's m*rder

was a debt of 660 pounds of cocaine.

And a fight over a woman called...

-Rosaura?
-Exactly.

In the tape, the cop claims that Rosaura

was a high-end operator
for Amado Carrillo.

Some even think she was
his liaison with Colombia.

My dear partner!

The artist himself.

Look, I even look small!

Do you think that girl
was a hostess for Paco Stanley?

PACO STANLEY
m*rder*d!

Of course not.

But for some reason,

the facts came together

to create a figure
they can actually blame.

That's where one blonde takes the fall.

Paola in place of Rosaura.

According to information
that got to our paper,

Rosaura Vidal disappeared
on June 7th, 1999.

The day Paco Stanley was m*rder*d.

But why isn't the DA investigating that?

Come on, take a step back.

Ask yourself,
if they won't go after the blonde,

won't open that Pandora's box,

who are they protecting?

If the government got their hands
on them, they'd be heroes.

Why don't they, then?

Because...

they can't.

Exactly.

This is terrible, cousin.

There's no way.

The DA's Office is doing everything
to bury the information.

But they don't know we already have it.

Yes, but we don't have any proof.

How the f*ck
can we prove I'm not that woman?

If it gets cleared up,
they can't accuse me.

They have to know
that other blonde woman exists.

I was a cook...

I would cook meals
for the Amezcua brothers.

On several occasions,

at least three times,

they had Ms. Paola visit their cell.

Why did they want to k*ll Mr. Stanley?

He owed them money.

Paola as well?

She was their friend.

They treated each other like friends.

Almost like equals.

For over a year,
I've said I don't know any Amezcua.

Silence, please.

I'm only here because I'm blonde.

Because I wanted to be on TV.

Be quiet, ma'am,
it can be detrimental to yourself.

There's another blonde.

There's another blonde,
right, Mr. District Attorney?

Her name is Rosaura Vidal.

Silence.

This is a hearing,

not a face-off.

You can't speak here.

Okay, we conclude the hearing

of Mr. Luis Gabriel
Valencia López "Flama."

-We'll...
-Attorney.

Find Rosaura Vidal.

She is guilty.

Find her! Why don't you do your job?

She's the one who should be here.
Rosaura Vidal.

Rosaura Vidal! Please, find her!

Rosaura Vidal.

I did that
against my cousin's recommendations,

because I was sure that by making a scene,

I'd force the DA
to investigate that woman.

But... I was wrong.

-Afternoon, Your Honor.
-Attorney.

-Good afternoon, everyone.
-Good afternoon.

Your Honor, the DA's Office
presents three new witnesses.

Officer, please, show them in.

They are José Miranda Moguel,

Javier González Nieto,

Hernán Cruz Velarde.

All three are neighbors of Ms. Paola.

I have here their signed statements.

Our witnesses affirm that before
the m*rder of Francisco Stanley,

they saw daily how Ms. Paola Durante

would leave and come back to her house
in different luxury cars

in the company of drug lord Luis Amezcua.

-With whom...
-Man.

They suspect...

Why did you do that?

She had some kind of
work or personal relationship.

No, no, no.

I told you not to make a scene.

What should I do?

-Rot in here?
-Cousin, calm down.

Those witnesses are all they have.

I read their statements
and they are baseless.

You made a scene and it didn't work.

It's my turn now.

Okay?

Okay.

I have a question for the witnesses.

Did you make statements individually?

Yes.

I'd like to state that, although
they were made and signed separately,

the statements are identical.

Word for word.

Down to every comma.

They didn't even bother
to fabricate three different ones.

The words there, are they your words?

The same as your mates?

Yes.

-I don't know.
-Did you read before signing?

They didn't let me.

Silence, please.

What did you see exactly

when you saw Paola
come and go with Luis Amezcua?

We were outside
and we saw a car coming up.

It parked in front of us,

and Paola got out.

She said goodbye to Amezcua.
She was all dressed up.

Then, he looked at me,

and I felt threatened.

Weren't you afraid
of declaring against the Amezcuas?

I mean, they're not known
for being nice to snitches.

Silence, please.

Your Honor,
I have another question for the DA.

We can see that the dates
in the statements have been altered.

On page one, all three witnesses claim
they saw Paola with Luis Amezcua in 1998.

On page two, all three witnesses
claim they saw her in 1999.

Counselor.

Counselor?

Your Honor, I ask
that the witness be detained.

Detain him right now.

Okay, counselor,
what are your reasons to ask this?

The witness says he saw Paola
with Luis Amezcua in March, 1999.

There's a tiny detail.

In March, 1999,
Luis Amezcua was already in prison.

How could he be outside Paola's house,
if he was in prison?

Silence, please.

Your Honor, it's evident

the witness is committing perjury.

Counselor, if what you say is true,

of course we should act
according to the law,

and follow due process.

But right now,
we're here for other reasons.

Other reasons?

These are the reasons.

Let's proceed, please. Silence.

You're not fulfilling your duty.

Counselor, hey, hey.

Hey, Counselor, be very careful
in how you are talking to me.

Paola?

I'm sorry.

Sorry, Sergio, but...

The last straw was
when the Human Rights Commission

issued their recommendation.

Would you remind the audience watching us

what the recommendation was?

To be released.

And what was the DA's answer?

Aren't we still here, Sergio?

They turned it down.

Throughout history, it's the first time,

and I want to make this clear,

that the DA's Office turns down
a recommendation

from the Human Rights Commission.

I miss my daughter so much.
I want to see my daughter, Sara.

This is unfair.

This is an injustice.

Paola.

Life isn't fair.

Our only mistake?

Being in the wrong place
at the wrong time.

We have that in common.

You had a dream.

They punished you for fulfilling it.

That's your story, get it in your head.

If the law can't get you out of here,

use the cameras.

This is your time.

Make some noise.

I want

to tell District Attorney Saúl Villareal

and the government of this city,

that this soap opera you made up
must come to an end.

Luis Gabriel,

we don't know each other.

Your statement has me in here.

Please, you have to stop lying.

Also, I would like to thank Mexico,

all of the people watching.

I'd like to thank the support
during this long and difficult process.

Thank you for listening.

I'd like to tell you

that if one of us is
a victim of the government,

all of us are victims.

It's been a long struggle,

it's been a big effort.

But in the end,

we won!

Mexico begins a new era.

Vicente Fox Quesada has won the elections

against his opponents Francisco Labastida
and Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas.

Tomorrow... Democracy wins.

The latter, quit his position
as head of government...

{\an8} It's an important case
because of who the victim was,

{\an8} but I'll repeat, unfortunately...

{\an8} ...to run for president

{\an8} and last year, he was subjected
to a mediatic bashing

{\an8} due to the investigations
of the Stanley case.

{\an8} Cárdenas and his cabinet
lost the popular vote,

{\an8} turning this electoral defeat
into his third.

Furthermore, Francisco Labastida

became the first PRI candidate
to lose a presidential election.

Thus, the Institutional
Revolutionary Party,

leaves the presidency
for the first time since 1929.

Guards!

Guards!

Guards! Open up, please!

Guards!

My name is Luis Gabriel Valencia López.

I'm here voluntarily,

because I feel morally wrong,

and I requested the presence
of a notary public,

and of people I trust
who are here with me,

I'd like to clear up some facts
which I was forced to declare

in relation to the m*rder
of Francisco Stanley.

{\an8} I was forced under threats

to accuse certain people...

who are completely innocent of this crime.

These people are...

Luis Ignacio Amezcua,

Erasmo Pérez Garnica.

Mario Rodríguez,

and Paola Durante Ochoa.

Mario Rodríguez Bezares,
due to insufficient evidence,

is to be released
completely and immediately.

Paola Durante Ochoa,

due to insufficient evidence

is to be released
completely and immediately.

You're going home.

Mr. Villareal, what do you have to say...

What can you tell us
about this release sir, please?

I lied because I was threatened.

They gave me my statement,

and forced me to learn it by heart.

If anything happens to my family,

I'll blame Mr. Villareal.

He knew this was a lie.