01x05 - José Alfredo "El Ruiseñor" Cruz: Cantante de rancheras

[bunniefuu]

All characters, plots, situations

and stories in the show

are purely fictional.

Any resemblance to reality

is purely coincidental.

[ranchera music playing through speaker]

[retiree] But don't threaten me ♪

Don't threaten me ♪

Because you say you're leaving

And you're leaving and you're leaving ♪

[crowd cheering in distance]

What's going on? [grunts]

[clamoring continues in the distance]

[music stops]

[murmurs indistinctly]

[crowd screaming]

[crowd] Mockingbird! Mockingbird!

What's going on?

[crowd] Mockingbird! Mockingbird!

GONZALEZ BROS. MOVERS

[retiree] What the hell is this, damn it?

-[fan] Let's go, let's go.

-[crowd shouting]

-Miss, who is it?

-[shouting continues]

It's The Mockingbird. He kissed me here.

-The Mockingbird.

-He signed my cassette.

[crowd] Mockingbird! Mockingbird!

Pass it to me.

[fan 1] Yes, yes, yes. Thanks.

There you go. Who wants this one? There.

Thank you very much.

Hey, are you the new neighbor?

-That's right.

-Ah.

Uh, Captain Pedro Rodríguez.

Charmed.

José Alfredo Cruz, "Mockingbird,"

at your service.

Come this way, neighbor. This way.

Thank you for coming and the love.

God bless you.

BUTTER MAN

What?

You're not even going to give me a hug?

-Hi, Dad.

-Hi.

I know you don't like surprise visits.

You're my daughter. You can come anytime.

But, yes, next time,

I'd prefer that you call ahead.

It's just I need your help.

It's about the new case I'm working on

Well, it's it's a clue

I mean, it's a possible clue

in the case that

No, no, no, honey. Not like that.

You need to learn to speak clearly.

You were the chief of police

when Butter Man was arrested.

They gave you the case

from that gossip rag, or what?

-No.

-So, what then?

Do you believe that delinquent

who says that he's not Butter Man?

Nobody has ever seen Butter Man's face.

I can't compare.

Dad, don't you think it's suspicious

that all these things start happening

at the same time as the con jobs

that are linked to the original case?

What are the facts?

Not what you imagine, or suppose.

The facts, honey. The facts.

-Precisely.

-Well?

-I have a fact I want to ask you about.

-Good, good.

Botello, the lawyer.

You know him, he's your friend, right?

-And he's been your lawyer as well, right?

-No, no, no. I know him, yes.

Is he my friend? No, he's my lawyer,

and only for certain things.

I suspect that he's involved in

the cases related to the new Butter Man.

[scoffs] Botello? That dumbass?

Of course not.

Look. This is confidential.

He's behind the sale

of the stolen Dodé in Acapulco.

Botello?

What would he get from it?

I'm sure that he's linked

to the new Butter Man.

Everything indicates that he's covering

for someone linked to Butter Man.

Why? Do you have any guesses or what?

No. That's why I need your help.

You know him, Dad.

Do you think he's covering

for the new Butter Man?

-And if so, why?

-I haven't the slightest clue.

What I can tell you

is that the man behind bars is Butter Man.

-Ah, but

-But what?

Honey,

I understand that you want to

prove something to the others,

but be very careful, okay?

You're going to look ridiculous

listening to a thug,

and all you'll achieve are more headlines.

Focus, okay?

Don't get distracted by crazy theories.

Although I know that sometimes

you don't like being a Robles,

you are one.

Sorry, but you have to be up to the task.

Ah, I'm sorry I haven't heard of you,

it's just that

Well, I'm from another generation,

from the classics.

Uh, Lola Beltrán, Jorge Negrete,

Pedro Infante, you know

Now you're not just talking

about classics.

You're talking about

the Olympus of Mexican music!

The Olympus. Of course, yes.

-Look at this.

-Eh.

These albums are all gold,

platinum, and all, but this one

I'm very proud of this one.

They gave it to me for my last album.

Ah, well. I'd love to listen to it.

-Really?

-Yes.

All right, I'll put on the record player.

[ranchera music playing through speaker]

"José Alfredo 'The Mockingbird.'

Greatest Hits."

GREATEST HITS

JOSÉ ALFREDO "MOCKINGBIRD" CRUZ

-Ah, it's lovely, isn't it?

-Yes.

But that melody is made

for drinking tequila, isn't it?

That would be good, yeah.

I'd offer you one,

but I don't have anything.

Oh, no, no, no. Don't you worry.

-[music continues]

-[laughs]

It's been a while since I've heard

something so beautiful. Truly, eh?

Well, congratulations.

No, you honor me. You honor me, Don Pedro.

Your face tells me

you've lived a good life.

You must have some good stories, eh?

Well, of course. Several.

I served my whole life with the police,

so you can only imagine.

No, I'd prefer not to imagine.

It's better if you tell me.

-[music continues]

-[sighs]

I can't believe I'd never heard you, man.

You're one of those "true" artists,

God's own truth.

Uh, you know what?

I'd love to hear you sing live.

[music ends]

Did you read this already?

[Elena] You're never early

and you're always late.

Well, it's because there's been

a bit of a hullabaloo.

There's a rumor that the woman

who makes chilaquiles sandwiches

is going to retire.

Now that's news. Not like this.

What the f*ck?

Our con artist seems like

a hero from a novel.

That's impossible.

Son of a b*tch, that's impossible.

It's weird, right?

-Since no one's reported the robbery.

-[Elena] Because it doesn't exist.

Look.

Butter Man robs toy factory

pretending to be employee

-[Beto] What am I looking at?

-[Elena] Read it.

It's the same robbery.

BUTTER MAN ROBS TOY FACTORY

PRETENDING TO BE EMPLOYEE

Ah, f*ck.

The copycat.

No. Because this robbery hasn't happened.

This is an old story

that's been paraphrased and updated

based on a robbery case from 1960.

They just changed the name and place.

[Beto] Why don't you ask your dad?

[Elena] I asked him,

but he says I'm wasting time.

Yes, sir. I'll handle it. Of course.

MAIN OFFICE

Detective Robles.

Yes, Captain.

What's this about? Are we a joke, or what?

"Since the appointment

of the new police administration,

robberies and other crimes

are a daily occurrence.

Each day, the new Butter Man

seems to show us

how easy it is to flout the law

when it's as weak as our Republic."

It's a fake story.

Who cares if it's fake or true?

If everyone reads it, they'll believe it.

-These stories lower our credibility.

-[slaps newspaper]

Your little friend makes us look bad.

He's not my little friend.

I don't know why they let him publish

without verifying the source.

The president isn't happy.

He wants heads to roll and results.

This needs to be solved.

Does that mean I can continue

my case of the new Butter Man?

No, Robles!

You call your friend's newspaper

right this minute

-He's not my friend.

-I don't care!

You call your friend's newspaper

and you tell them that this guy

is publishing fake stories.

Do it, or I'll cut off your head myself.

Is that clear, Detective Robles?

Yes, Captain.

[Pablo] for them to take away my job.

It took me this long to get this far.

Garduño.

Did you make up your last story?

Your detective friend

called me to let me know

that the events in your last story

never happened.

That it's based on old news.

Please, tell me you didn't do that.

Perhaps I added

a little cream to the tacos,

but readers want that.

-They love Butter Man.

-[editor] No, no, no.

What you did

wasn't adding cream to the tacos,

you invented a new recipe.

You mixed al pastor and carnitas tacos,

burned them, added triple tortilla,

and then drowned them in cream.

I don't know if my stomach's growling

from the scolding, or from hunger.

[editor] Enough. You're a journalist.

Or, a so-called journalist.

Who knows what you learned

at hick school in Puebla.

But a journalist is not a liar.

Yeah, but it sells, right?

Our paper sales are high

since the Butter Man chronicles.

Look, Garduño, this is serious.

You deserve to be fired.

If you fire me, I'm sure other papers

will want to buy my stories.

Don't go looking for trouble.

[reporter]

You've got good sources, Pablito.

I'll check my grade-school books

to see if I can find

a good news story, too.

[reporters laugh]

[ranchera music playing]

[singer whoops, hollers]

[singer] Make the mariachi sound lovely.

Mariachi is the happiness

Of the cantinas and arenas ♪

What sadness and bitterness

Find their cure in mariachi ♪

That's my mariachi

Mexican to the hilt ♪

The trumpets and violins

Delight our very soul ♪

The vihuelas and guitars

Sing as they are plucked ♪

And my friend, the guitarrón

Sets the rhythm of the heart ♪

That's my mariachi

Mexican to the hilt ♪

Mexican ♪

To the hilt ♪

-[music ends]

-[applause]

-How are you, Pedro?

-Hi.

-How are you doing?

-Well.

Enough, boys.

Thanks.

And congrats on the new house, José.

-No, man.

-Congratulations, eh.

At your service, compadre. Thanks.

-[musician] Excuse me.

-Take care. Congrats.

-[musician 2] Excuse me.

-See you later.

-[musician 3] See you around.

-[Pedro] Congrats.

[musician 3] Thank you very much.

Thank you for inviting me to this, man.

[laughs]

It's like a dream, man, watching musicians

work their magic live.

-Isn't it?

-Yes.

You don't have to thank me.

To tell you the truth,

it's an honor just to have any guest

who enjoys my music.

No, the honor is mine. Truly. [laughs]

-Listen.

-Huh?

-You told me you were a cop, right?

-Mm-hmm.

That's a very dangerous profession, right?

Yes, of course. Sure.

Come sit, and you can keep telling me.

-Sure, why not? Let's go. Yeah.

-Here, this way.

Reporting me to my boss?

What the f*ck's wrong with you?

Tone it down, Garduño.

You're publishing fake stories.

What the f*ck did you think would happen?

Just because you have a paycheck.

My stories about Butter Man

pay my rent, Elena.

-I thought we were friends.

-You're wrong. We're not friends.

Your lies messed up my investigation.

You're screwing up my work.

You're painting the police

like we're bumbling idiots

who allow robberies, con jobs, as*ault.

If you were doing your job properly,

there wouldn't be a story

because the con artist would be arrested.

You just don't get it.

You're going to make

both of us lose our jobs.

Go on. Javi [snaps fingers]

toss him out.

-[Javi] Let's go.

-Go on, get lost. Now.

-[agent] Move it, kid. Bye-bye.

-[agent 2] Get lost. Get out.

-Don't touch me, as*h*le.

-No, no.

[agent 2] Get lost. Get out.

[Pedro] Look.

My family's resting place.

-May they rest in peace, Don Pedro.

-Thanks.

These are a special edition.

You can choose, neighbor.

No, man. You pick one.

Well, let's try this one.

Let's try it. Ah.

Hey, I'm serious, Pedro.

You have a lovely home.

Eh.

But sometimes, it feels very large

for just one man.

-[glasses clink]

-[both] Cheers.

-[laughs]

-Ah, God, this is good.

-Yes.

-Very good.

Why wouldn't it be?

Only pure quality for me.

They gave me these bottles a while ago,

when I caught a guy close to Zapopan.

Who was the biggest b*stard you faced?

Like, a serious badass.

Whether he escaped

or you caught him, either way.

Well, there were a lot.

But someone in particular

that This is confidential.

Oh, don't start with that.

What I can say and tell you,

is that I'm so happy I'm retired.

Cheers, then.

For the ones who got away.

As I drink I am comforted ♪

I bid farewell to your love ♪

I leave singing ♪

Your fair eyes won't see me fall ♪

-Ay, ay, ay. Cheers.

-Yes, cheers.

Ah, sh*t. [coughs]

-Hey, compadre, where's the bathroom?

-[stutters] Up the stairs, to the right.

-There, to the right.

-Ah.

[Pedro sighs]

Ah, my Chavelita, man.

I miss her so much.

She was the most beautiful woman

I'd ever met. Mmm.

And she had great taste,

with that What's that called?

-That necklace.

-[groans]

-Did you give it to her?

-No, no.

That necklace was

a retirement gift from the police.

-And what did you do with it, huh?

-With the necklace?

-Uh-huh.

-Ah.

It's resting [sniffles]

beside her ashes.

My wife's ashes are over there.

And you know what? It fit her so well.

Oh, my God.

[laughs] Where else would it be?

-Of course. Next to the ashes, right?

-Right.

[Emiliano laughs]

[stammers] Weren't you

going to the bathroom?

No, compadre.

I'm going to get a bit of fresh air.

Ah, okay.

[sniffles]

Chavelita, why did you leave,

you naughty girl?

[knife opens]

What the f*ck

are you doing here, compadre?

[knife closes]

Ah, compadre, I was

I have so many feelings inside, compadre.

I came to unload a little.

You think you're the only one

who has lost someone?

[sighs] Truly, compadre?

Yes, when I was little, in our family,

we had a loss

that broke all of our hearts and

That stays with you, compadre.

That never leaves.

You're right, compadre.

You're a good soul, José Alfredo.

Let us pray.

[groans]

Dear God, I commend to You

my compadre, José Alfredo,

for You to heal his heart.

Amen.

[sighs] Help me, please.

[Pedro groans]

Ah.

I only want to tell you, sir,

that you are not alone.

You You have a friend here.

Huh?

Same to you, compadre, same to you.

So, will you tell me

where you got that necklace?

Because that whole story about

a gift from the police force, and whatnot,

I don't believe that.

-When have the cops ever given gifts?

-No, man, honestly, it's true.

Well, it was a gift from my successor,

Cuauhtémoc Robles.

-Ah, sh*t.

-What's wrong, compadre?

No. Nothing, nothing.

Wasn't Robles the one who caught

[smacks lips]

that con artist? That Butter Man?

I searched for that thug for a long time,

but never caught him.

Cuauhtémoc managed to catch him,

thanks to my years of work.

Robles did a good job. Yes.

[flight attendant] Welcome to Flight 044

with service to

the Mexico City International Airport.

Please remain seated

with your seat belts fastened.

[editor] Garduño!

-You're fired.

-What? Why?

I can overlook the fake story.

I can even justify it

to the Board of Directors

as a subjective opinion piece,

but I won't tolerate this

Sir, "subjective opinion piece"

is redundant.

Enough! Pack your things and get out!

Now what?

The competition published a story

saying that Butter Man is lying.

BUTTER MAN LIES FOR FAME

That he really is Butter Man

and he wants attention.

They even have an interview

with his former lawyer, Botello.

And we published your story

declaring the opposite.

I'm sure of my story, sir.

And the owner of the paper is sure

that this paper's credibility is at stake.

And yes, we rushed your story to print

without checking first

if what the thug said was true.

I'm not losing my job over you.

So find a box,

get your things, and get out.

[laughs]

-What is that?

-You asked for it.

I did?

Mmm. So, Mrs. Axi Mundia Lugo. Mm-hmm.

How many years

did Mr. Botello work for you?

Mm-hmm. Thanks.

[growls]

Uh, sorry, Elenita. Are you feeling okay?

[sighs]

All of Botello's clients

who I've contacted

don't have anything to do with Butter Man.

-[sighs]

-[Beto] Mmm.

The press is going to eat us alive.

Ah, Elena, but your dad already told you

It's my case.

Well, our case.

But we have to find

a guilty party or a reason

for everything that's happening,

or they'll keep discrediting us.

-Get it? Or do you want us both fired?

-Yes.

Well, Elena, look.

I'm set to retire soon, so I don't

No, I don't want them to fire you.

Uh, that's why I came to tell you

that I didn't find convincing evidence

against Botello.

-What did you find about Lacrosse?

-Ah.

Well, there was no record of him

until three years ago,

but this eyewitness sketch

looks a lot like Abel.

[Elena] Mmm.

Yes.

BUTTER MAN STRIKES AGAIN:

SUSPECTED OF IDENTITY THEF

[doorbell rings]

Captain.

-Come in, make yourself at home.

-Captain Robles.

-I found Captain Rodríguez.

-Ah, you don't say.

Mm-hmm.

-He must be getting old and senile.

-[chuckles]

I hope he's living out

his remaining days in peace.

-He seemed pretty lucid to me.

-Ah, that's good.

So? Did you find

what you were looking for?

Let's stop with the bullshit, Robles. Hmm?

You and I both know

that you let Butter Man escape.

Then you jailed another poor sap

to pass him off as him

and also put an innocent woman in jail

as a scapegoat.

Ah, no. [laughs]

That woman is no saint, eh?

And in the off chance that she is,

you don't have any evidence against me.

Or do you, Mr. Manríquez?

Botello.

This situation is getting out of hand.

And there's no evidence

against the Captain.

Only one of us here

is going to get screwed.

The police are on their way.