05x04 - La Situacion

Episode transcripts for the 2016 TV show "Queen of the South". Aired June 2016 - current.*
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"Queen of the South" follows Teresa, who flees Mexico after her drug-runner boyfriend is m*rder*d. Settling in Spain, she looks to become the country's reigning drug smuggler and to avenge her lover's m*rder. Adaptation from the miniseries "La Reina del Sur".
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05x04 - La Situacion

Post by bunniefuu »

POTE: Previously on Queen of the South...

Kelly Anne.

I'm sorry we haven't talked about the baby.

- Let's go tell Teresa.

- Oh, uh, hold on.

I'm not even two months along, so can we wait just a little bit?

If you think it's right.

But let's not wait too long.

I don't like keeping secrets in our family.

And neither does Teresa.

REPORTER: There is a manhunt underway for a suspect in last night's alleged m*rder of Davis Lafayette, son of Honorable Judge Cecil Lafayette. The suspect is the reputed head of the New Orleans crime syndicate, known to local law enforcement as Marcel William Dumas. I owe you my life.

Marcel, you are the son that I wished I had.

Trust no one.

The judge was taking kickbacks from sentencing those kids.

So how do he keep track of it?

- A ledger.

- So we need to find his ledger.

Just the man I was looking for.

Cuff him.

Someone has to hang for the judge.

(TENSE MUSIC)

♪ ♪

- I'm sorry, Marcel.

- I trusted you.

Lo siento jefa.

(GASPS)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

♪ ♪

(DOOR CREAKS, CLANGS)

You're at it early.

(GASPS)

Oh, sugar, you made me coffee.

Thank you so much.

You are a godsend.

(GAGS)

What is this?

Decaf.

You told me you could not have caffeine because of the baby.

Oh, yeah, I did.

Did Christmas come early?

How long was in there?

- This is for you.

- KELLY ANNE: Oh.

Did Santa bring Momma a bigger purse too?

The guestroom next door is your new office.

That's where you work from now on.

Okay.

I'm gonna have to go to meetings from time to time.

Then Flaco will go with you.

- Who?

- Flaco.

He's your new shadow.

Wherever you go, he goes.

- And curfew's at : .

- (BLOWS RASPBERRY)

Kay, um, Flaco, can you give us a second?

Right.

Is this really necessary?

I want to put everything in place before we tell Teresa.

I don't want her to be worrying about the baby on top of everything that's happened with Dumas.

(SOFTLY)

Right.

Okay.

- You need more time?

- Just a little bit.

She's just got a lot going on, and I'm still getting used to all this.

Orale.

We'll tell her when you're ready.

Okay.

But Flaco stays.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Decaf?

- Good man.

- (PHONE BUZZES)

Hello?

KELLY ANNE: Teresa.

Dumas was denied bail.

They're saying he's a flight risk.

If we can find that ledger and expose Lafayette, there's a chance his case will be thrown out.

I'll keep reaching out to attorneys.

I want the best team, no matter how much it costs.

- Of course.

- (FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

No luck.

We searched Lafayette's house, but the cops cleaned up.

Any documents he kept were taken into evidence.

I'm gonna find us a lawyer.

We need that ledger, James.

Not just for Dumas.

I know.

What do you want me to do?

(TENSE MUSIC)

What, it's not enough that Lafayette's dead?

You gotta m*rder the man's reputation too?

He was giving kids maximum sentences in exchange for kickbacks from private prisons.

I don't believe you.

JAMES: We have a zip drive with thousands of names.

Do you need to see it?

Yeah, I knew the judge was into some dirty things, but this?

POTE: Not everyone was as lucky as you, cabrón.

While he was sending you to night school, he was sending these kids to hell.

Tell me what I'm looking for.

He must have kept a record of the kickbacks.

We don't know what it looks like, but it must have names, dates, and dollar amounts.

Anywhere from , to , per inmate per month.

If it exists, I'll find it.

What about that $ -million reward?

Did anyone claim it?

Still sitting there.

Whoever squealed cares more about putting Dumas away than getting rich.

I'll be in touch.

- (CAR STARTS, DRIVES AWAY)

- It has to have been Lucien.

Until we have proof, we need to hold all shipments.

If he ratted out Dumas, he could turn on us next.

(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

♪ ♪

KELLY ANNE: I understand.

- Thank you so much.

- (PHONE BEEPS)

What did he say?

KELLY ANNE: Same thing every other reputable defense attorney in a -mile radius has said.

Apparently defending a judge k*ller is career su1c1de.

Even if they win.

Especially if they win.

There has to be someone.

In New Orleans, Dumas is not innocent.

It's his word against Lafayette, and he made a run for it.

Keep trying.

Look out of state.

I put him in jail because I believed I could get him out.

- Okay.

- Thank you.

Jefa, Lucien's here to see you.

Send him in.

(TENSE MUSIC)

♪ ♪

Afternoon, Miss Mendoza.

What can I do for you?

Can we sit?

Have a drink perhaps?

You've made very clear how you feel about me.

True.

I'm not the biggest admirer of your work or its outcomes.

Is this about Marcel?

It couldn't be avoided.

Then why add insult to injury by cutting off his crew?

Because I trusted Marcel.

I don't trust you.

I'm old, Miss Mendoza.

Being the boss for years can make you set in your ways.

You'll see.

But even I have to accept that without you, my people will go hungry.

And with hunger comes desperation, anarchy.

If you cut us off, they'll be blood on the streets of New Orleans.

I need to think about it.

(PHONE BUZZING)

Tell me.

Gamble found the ledger.

I just forwarded you the pictures he sent me.

That thumb drive with this ledger, in the right hands, and the judge's whole kickback scheme's exposed.

(SIGHS)

Thank you.

JAMES: No problem.

I'm on my way to make the exchange now.

Great.

I'll see you later.

Gamble found Lafayette's ledger.

James is getting it right now.

That's good.

What do you want to do about the shipment that Lucien is asking for?

I won't do anything until I know where Marcel stands.

We tried to reach out to him.

Teresita, he wants nothing to do with us.

We can't give him a choice.

♪ ♪ Ah, sh*t.

- (DOOR CLATTERING)

- (KEYS JINGLE)

(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)

(LAUGHING IN DISBELIEF)

Wow.

Whatever the hell this is, you have five minutes.

I'm sorry, Marcel.

But Lucien came to see me.

He asked me to send the shipment.

(SCOFFS, LAUGHING)

(SIGHS)

No.

He said he wants to keep your crew in business.

You can keep your coke and your bullshit apologies.

I'd rather my people starve than be in business with you.

I'm ready.

(DOOR CLATTERING)

Rat.

(SOLEMN MUSIC)

♪ ♪

(DOOR CREAKS, SLAMS)

(PHONE BUZZING)

Did you get the ledger?

- TERESA: You sure they're feds?

- JAMES: I'm positive.

POTE: Why would the feds being watching Eli?

Because he's a corrupt cop with ties to a m*rder*d judge.

Who was in our bar this morning.

POTE: Maybe he was wearing a wire.

No.

He wouldn't have.

If the feds are surveilling him, it's 'cause they're still building their case.

But they could have followed us here, which means we are now part of their case.

It's only a matter of time before they pull him in.

KELLY ANNE: Didn't take much convincing to get him to turn on Lafayette and hop on our payroll.

If the feds take him in, he'll hand us over on a silver platter, guaranteed.

k*ll him.

(UNSETTLING MUSIC)

♪ ♪

We don't know for sure that he's gonna turn on us.

Maybe the feds won't even question him.

We're not taking any chances.

When you k*ll him, I want you to plant the evidence against Lafayette near his body.

It's not that simple.

He's being surveilled by the FBI.

That's means the evidence will get into the right hands.

You did this type of work for the CIA.

You have a problem with it now?

Make it clean.

This can't come back on us.

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

POTE: What's in the goody bag?

Just some tools of the trade.

Hmm, the CIA taught you some cool tricks.

Never thought I'd be using them here.

- JAMES: Like this.

- POTE: Uh-huh.

I used to tell Teresa that she used to do things the hard way, trying to make peace without f*ring the first sh*t.

'Cause she had a code.

A line she wouldn't cross.

Codes are meant to be cracked.

They didn't teach you that in the...

CIA?

Don't mess this up, cabrón.

Teresa?

Hey.

I understand why you're doing this, but we have over half a billion clean in our offshore accounts, and the deposit on the waterfront went through.

I mean, it's ours, so...

why are we taking a chance with the feds when we can get out?

No one has to die.

I mean, we could...

we could leave right now and be set for life.

You're here to advise me, not question me.

Understood.

- Kelly Anne, slow down.

- Slow down?

This is the FBI we're talking about, not some local yahoos with a sheriff badge.

We should be on the first flight out of here.

How does Teresa not understand that?

Because she came from nothing.

And once you've been hungry, you do anything not to feel like that again.

I understand that.

Believe me.

But to k*ll a cop on speculation under the nose of the feds, she's taking a crazy risk.

Crazy risks are part of our lives now.

We do business in Miami, New York.

The corridor is ours.

We're turned a corner, Kelly Anne.

And we've turned a corner, Pote.

We got to start thinking about more than just ourselves.

(SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

♪ ♪

(DOGS BARKING IN THE DISTANCE)

(RADIO CHATTER)

- (KEYS JINGLE)

- (INDISTINCT PA)

(DOOR SLAMS)

(GUARD SHOUTS IN THE DISTANCE)

(LATCH UNLOCKS, CREAKS)

(PHONE BUZZES)

Marcel.

Is that you, son?

Did you ask Mendoza to release the shipment?

Marcel, now, you have to understand.

No, I don't.

We are done with her.

You're not the one people are coming to scared and angry, all because you got into business with the wrong woman. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm owed a thank you for all the cleaning up I've had to do around here.

I appreciate you, Lucien.

You know I do.

Oh, do you?

I found you, saved you from your hell of a life, gave you an empire.

You have the gall to question my decisions?

I sweat, bled, I even k*lled for you, to make sure you got out clean, just like you wanted.

I have earned my place.

(EXHALES SHARPLY)

I remember everything you did for me, Lucien.

I do.

Right now, I need you to remember that this is still my business, and you do things my way.

Do you hear me?

I hear you.

Good.

(PHONE THUDS)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

♪ ♪

(TENSE MUSIC)

(WINDOW SQUEAKS)

♪ ♪

(CROWD CHEERS ON TV)

(SPORTS ANNOUNCER SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)

- ANNOUNCER: There's the snap.

- ELI: Uh-huh.

ANNOUNCER: Oh, nice play action.

Makes the drop play, rolls out right...

ELI: Ah, he's a bum.

OFFICER (OVER RADIO): Male, blue shirt, dark pants.

(ANNOUNCER CONTINUES OVER TV)

- DISPATCHER: You need medical?

- (RADIO CHIRPS)


OFFICER: ...Want to confirm that.

- (ANNOUNCER CONTINUES)

- ELI: (MUTTERING)

- (CROWD CHEERS) - (CHUCKLES)

(SPORTS ANNOUNCERS CHATTER)

(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)

ANNOUNCER: st in .

Just about midfield.

ELI: There you go.

Eying the pass.

ANNOUNCER: Quick hand-off right, finds a hole, gets about , let's call it / yards.

(DOORKNOB CLICKS)

- (DOOR CREAKS, SHUTS)

- Josie.

- (SIGHS)

- Hey, baby.

Jesus, Josie, I thought you was working a double.

I got it covered so I could watch the big game.

- ELI: Yeah.

- JOSIE: Where we at?

ELI: Down by at the half.

JOSIE: Well, it ain't over till it's over.

ELI: Mm.

I'm gonna make us something to eat.

Think I could get some of that gumbo?

Mm-hmm.

- Just go easy on the hot sauce.

- (SCOFFS)

And you call yourself a Southern boy.

(BOTH LAUGH)

What's going on, brother?

What's the hold up?

ANNOUNCER: All incoming inmates wait in Cell Intake One.

I repeat, Cell Intake One.

Mr. Marcel Dumas.

How are you?

I've been better.

I'll bet.

You know, the prosecutor's having a field day building up this... double homicide.

Wow.

State judge and his disabled son?

They'll be gunning for the death penalty, for sure.

Agent Panetta, by the way.

You'll have to forgive me, Agent Panetta.

I have enough friends.

That's where you're wrong, Marcel.

I'm the head of an anticorruption task force.

I've been investigating the New Orleans criminal justice system.

See, I'm not after you.

I'm after them.

Go on.

PANETTA: Well, we've been looking at Lafayette for some time.

So it came as no surprise that he wound up dead.

It's how he wound up dead that piqued my interest.

There's not too many Nola gangsters cutting off heads.

That's usually reserved for, uh, Mexican cartels, or !sis.

Last time I checked, !sis isn't hanging around in the bayou.

So...

if you can make just one more friend...

Tell me what you know about Teresa Mendoza.

Just might be able to keep you alive.

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

Is that the waterfront?

The architects delivered it today.

This is our way out.

But not if the feds are on to us.

We run now, our money won't protect us.

We'll figure it out, Teresita.

We always do.

(PHONE BUZZES)

It's Lucien.

LUCIEN: Good evening, Teresa.

I hope I'm not calling too late.

What do you want?

I wanted to let you know that I just spoke to Marcel, and he's come around.

Now, he may not like it, but he knows we need you, and he'd like you to send the shipment just as soon as you can.

I'll send the truck tonight.

I appreciate you.

(PHONE BEEPS)

Dumas changed his mind?

That's what he said.

(TENSE MUSIC)

♪ ♪

I heard that wheeze, and I'm telling you, I just knew.

I said, "Doc, that baby might look fine now, "but if you don't get him to the NICU in the next minutes, we gonna be in trouble." Mm.

(CHUCKLES)

You want chips on the side?

ELI: Yeah, baby.

Thanks.

JOSIE: Anyhoo, damn near had to twist his arm.

Finally took him.

Just in time.

His heart nearly failed in the elevator.

ELI: That's good for you, babe.

- I'm proud of you.

- JOSIE: Thank you.

JOSIE: Hey, you know what?

Forget the chips.

Make that a side salad.

Gotta watch my girlish figure.

JOSIE: (LAUGHS)

Okay.

(RADIO STATIC, BEEPS)

OFFICER (OVER RADIO): Push notification for an FBI OCDETF

at Siete Gotas Distillery on Tamarack.

All units be advised.

- Kelly Anne.

- What's going on?

You were right.

Things are getting too dangerous.

I booked you a ticket to Belize.

You leave tonight.

- By myself?

- POTE: No.

Flaco will keep you safe.

Okay, for real this time, please.

Take that to the car.

Look, I understand you're worried.

I am too, okay?

But I'm not going anywhere without you.

Yes, you are.

We chose this life.

Our baby didn't.

I'm not gonna let you give birth in handcuffs.

I don't want that either.

But that is not your decision to make.

TERESA: What decision?

Um...

I...

uh, we...

We're pregnant.

We were trying to find the perfect time to tell you.

No, I understand.

(PHONE BUZZES)

What is it, Teresita?

It's James.

He says the FBI's planning a raid of the distillery.

What?

How much liquid cocaine do we have in there?

Half a ton.

ELI: Come on.

Come on!

Come on!

- Yeah!

Hey!

That's...

- (CROWD CHEERS)

- That's what I'm talking about!

- (JOSIE CHEERS)


Oh, that's what I'm talking about!

How do we know it's true?

How do we know it's not a rumor?

He heard it over dispatch at Eli's.

KELLY ANNE: Oh, God.

- Hey now!

- BOTH: Hey!

- (PHONE BUZZES)

- ELI: My boy.

That's my boy.

- He just got that.

Yeah.

Uh-huh.

- Ain't gonna fumble no more.

- JOSIE: That's that.

- ELI: Mm!

Whoo!

- JOSIE: That's it.

Ha, ha!

It was all about the gumbo, baby.

Why would the feds bust us and not the DEA?

Same reason they're following Eli.

They're after corruption.

Right.

If they can prove Gamble and Lafayette are in bed with the cartel, then they have their case.

POTE: They go into the distillery, it's over.

We're all going down.

Maybe not.

I'm going to confess.

(TENSE MUSIC)

♪ ♪

KELLY ANNE: (SIGHS)

Teresa, we can leave.

You know, you don't have to do this.

I do.

- (FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

- (DOOR CREAKS)

Field office coffee tastes like dirt, so I took the liberty of cream and sugar.

Hope you don't mind.

Thank you.

No, thank you.

Leave it to the lawyer.

(SIGHS HEAVILY)

Now, I hear you got something to confess.

I have information about Judge Cecil Lafayette.

What are we looking at?

One unmarked car, and the SWAT can just got here.

POTE: Oh.

As soon as my bar opened, he started blackmailing me, forcing me to pay him, or he'd shut me down.

When I heard he was m*rder*d, I thought the extortion would stop.

But then, Captain Gamble showed up, trashing my bar, demanding the same.

So I paid him.

And now, he wants more.

So you're the victim here.

Is that what you're saying?

That's not what I'm saying.

Well, first off, Miss Mendoza, I want to thank you for bringing this to my attention.

It's very, very interesting stuff.

Really.

And now, I know you're a busy woman, so I hope you don't mind if I tell you a little story.

A few days ago, I had a conversation with DEA Agent Alonzo Loya.

He had quite a story to tell.

Turns out...

You're not the only victim.

(SOLEMN MUSIC)

♪ ♪

KELLY ANNE: My client was cleared of any wrongdoings in this case.

But you already knew that.

True.

I also happen to know that you have ties to the Sinaloa cartel.

And now, a judge that you admit was extorting you winds up without a head.

And the only thing you want to confess to is paying some bribes?

KELLY ANNE: My client was kind enough to come down here and answer your questions.

It's okay.

Yes.

I was a money changer in Sinaloa.

And my boyfriend, Guero Davila, worked for the cartel.

When Guero was k*lled, he left everything to me to build a better life.

So that's what I did.

All I'm trying to do is be a legitimate business owner.

But between corrupt law enforcement and everyone assuming I'm a criminal, I can't make that happen.

So that's why I've come to the FBI.

- (SIRENS WAILING)

- Pull over.


I repeat, pull over.

That's a very convincing story, Miss Mendoza.

There's just one last thing I'd like to know about.

If you're such a legitimate business owner, how is it you have a truck full of cocaine out for delivery as we speak?

Oh, what in the hell?

They're getting ready to move in.

(PHONE BUZZES)

PAUL (OVER PHONE): Agent Dean, what do we got?

The truck is clean.

Are you sure?

It's just tequila.

Not a speck of cocaine on board.

Got it.

Let me guess.

You raided one of our trucks and didn't find anything...

We had reason to believe that that truck...

You have zero reason to believe my client was involved in any drug-related activities, but you went after her anyway because she's a Mexican immigrant.

Now I hate to break it to you, but the last time I checked, that is racial profiling, and that actually is a crime.

So now, you're harassing my client.

So let me make this super-duper clear: If you so much as step foot in any of my client's establishments, not only will you have a fat lawsuit on your hands, but I will personally call every news outlet in the country and let them know just how abusive, r*cist, and unconstitutional your cute little task force you have actually is.

Do I make myself clear?

- Shall we?

- Yes.

We're done here.

(PHONE BUZZES)

We're in place.

Ready to move on your orders.

(ENGINES REVVING)

(PHONE BUZZES)

Panetta called off the raid.

What?

So it worked?

- Yeah.

- Oh my God, it worked!

(LAUGHS)

Oh...

- Are you okay?

- Oh, God, I'm so sorry.

Yeah, I'm fine...

(RETCHING)

Just breathe.

(EXHALES)

(QUIETLY)

Just breathe.

- (ELI SNORING)

- NARRATOR: Delphi Airlines, we carry our hearts right here.

(SNORING)

(SIGHS)

NARRATOR: Be sure to check out our mobile app.

(DISHES CLATTER)

(DOOR CLICKS IN THE DISTANCE)

(DOOR SHUTS)

(TV CLICKS)

- (APPLAUSE)

- (BRIGHT MUSIC PLAYS)


BELLA: As you can see, I'm in my kitchen today, but it looks like more like a lab.

I do have flour, and eggs, and oil, and,

- of course, a pasta roller.

- Hmm?

BELLA: Because we are gonna mix all the ingredients together.

So break some eggs

- and the flour...

- Mm-hmm?

(BELLA CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)

- Mm-hmm.

- BELLA: Ah, bon appétit.

- Oh?

- BELLA: Mwah.

(FLOORBOARDS CREAK)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

♪ ♪

(GRUNTING)

(GASPING WEAKLY)

Eli, what was that noise?

Eli?

(FOOTSTEPS THUDDING)

Baby?

Oh, my God.

Baby?

Baby, what happened?

Baby?

Oh, baby.

- Eli, please.

- (HYPERVENTILATING)

Oh, God.

No, God.

Baby.

Please, please, please, don't do this to me.

Eli, wake up!

God!

- (CRYING)

- No!

No!

Eli, please!

I see.

Thank you for letting me know.

(LOUD THUD)

Charles?

(DOOR CLICKS)

To what do I owe this pleasure?

Easy, cabrón.

Clever of you all to send tequila.

So when did you know?

The minute you said Dumas asked for a shipment.

No way that gruñón would change his mind so fast.

Got desperate, didn't I?

You could have stayed retired.

Could have.

Should have.

But I got restless.

I missed the juice of it all.

And for what?

How much better can men like us eat anyhow?

Do me a favor, will you?

Tell Marcel I'm sorry.

It's too late for sorries.

All right.

Then let's get on with it then.

(EERIE MUSIC)

♪ ♪

(PHONE BUZZING)

Lucien.

TERESA: It's Teresa.

Please don't hang up.

Lucien is dead.

(HITCHED BREATHING)

How?

He told me you asked for a shipment.

You knew he was lying.

You...

You were so out of line.

TERESA: He wanted to take over your business. That's why he tipped the cops to your getaway car and why he turned me over to the feds.

He knew he would have to get rid of both of us to take back New Orleans.

The FBI paid me a visit as well.

But you didn't give me up.

- Why?

- 'Cause I ain't you!

Despite everything, I still got to get up in the morning and look at myself in the mirror.

I'm doing everything I can to get you out of there.

Seeing as you're the one who put me in here, I won't hold my breath, chica.

JAMES: It's done.

I left the thumb drive with the ledger, and the feds were first on the scene.

Thank you.

When the story breaks, it won't just help Dumas.

All the boys Lafayette put away, this could give them a second chance.

Yeah, I hope so.

(DESOLATE MUSIC)

♪ ♪

Congratulations on the baby.

Gracias, Teresita.

It took us by surprise.

After what happened to Tony, the last thing we considered was to start a family.

I'm sorry I didn't tell you before.

It's okay.

You're gonna be a great father.

I don't know about that.

I don't know what that looks like.

My father...

(SCOFFS)

He made me.

I am a k*ller, Teresita.

Are you scared?

Me too.

(SOLEMN MUSIC)

♪ ♪

(PROJECTOR CLICKING)
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