The Kingdom (2021) s01e02 Episode Script

1
A NETFLIX SERIES
Not even God gives me comfort today.
I ask him, I talk to him.
But how can so much hatred,
so much evil elicit a reply?
I'm also afraid.
Why deny it?
I was there.
The killer was right next to me.
By my side.
I get goosebumps just saying it.
They actually killed my running mate.
He was murdered in my arms.
Do you understand what this all means?
I can feel still
his blood smeared on my body.
Sleep has eluded me all through the night.
I got up, got dressed and came here.
When I arrived,
all the doors were still locked.
You will excuse me
if I sound a bit incoherent.
But you're asking me
if I want protection.
Well, no, no.
No, I can't.
I cannot walk around
surrounded by armed guards.
That won't do.
I want no barrier between me
and the church members.
I am a man of God.
I owe him my life.
Very well. I understand.
I can't force you to accept,
but it's my duty to offer it.
Tell me something, pastor.
Uh Well, I'm calling you "pastor."
Is it okay to call you "pastor"?
- Yes, that's fine.
- Is that the term? Very well.
Tell me something. Do you know
a certain Remigio Cárdenas?
Yes, Remigio Cárdenas.
I know him, why?
Could you be more specific?
Cárdenas.
He works at the home of the children.
It belongs to the church,
the Church of the Kingdom of Light.
What is your relationship
with him exactly?
What do you mean
"what is my relationship with him"?
What are you trying to get at?
- It's a question. I'm trying to
- What's behind your question?
Is it the fact that
Remigio Cárdenas is an ex-convict?
Have you been doing background checks
on everyone who works at my church?
Yes.
Yes, he is.
He's not the only one of my collaborators
who has spent time in jail.
That is part of our job, too,
bring people back to the way of the Lord.
What is it you want?
To solve a murder, or dig up dirt?
I'm trying to solve a murder.
That's why I'm asking these questions.
But why are you forcing
a connection between
an employee like Remigio Cárdenas,
and the murder of Armando Badajoz?
I'm not forcing the connection.
Remigio Cárdenas has confessed
to the murder of Armando Badajoz.
- Are you sure of what you say?
- Mm.
No. This makes no sense.
Could it be a mistake?
I'm afraid not.
It's him. He pled guilty to the charge.
I'll have to ask you to be discreet
until we finalize the proceedings, mm-hm?
Uh-huh.
COMMOTION IN THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM
Appalling. There are no other words
to describe it. It's appalling.
I have known Armando Badajoz
for many years
through various business activities.
And although we have
A MAN OF GOD
Although we had, I should say,
competing visions for the country,
those differences were always
expressed with great respect.
Your son is the legal representative
for your main opposition party.
Have you had a chance to speak to him?
Do you know who gets the nod
for the next presidential candidate?
Well, there's still time for that,
you know.
What I want to do now
is meet with the family
and express my condolences.
I also want to see my son,
be there for him.
I know he's going through difficult times.
Hypocrite.
RUBÉN OSORIO
Who is Remigio Cárdenas?
- Tadeo, please call me back. It's urgent.
- Julio, where were you?
I've texted you a thousand times.
I've been looking everywhere.
- It was Remigio.
- What about Remigio?
It was Remigio. I saw his face.
What are you talking about?
Badajoz's killer, Ana, it was Remigio.
Ana, listen to me.
How deeply are you involved
with the business?
I'm all in. Everything.
Okay. That mess needs to be cleaned up.
That's your priority.
- Okay.
- Yes?
Hm.
Good morning, Elena.
I need to see Emilio. Is he up yet?
Good morning. No, he went out.
It was very early. To the DA's office.
- When did they summon him?
- They didn't.
He went of his own accord.
I left him a ton of messages telling him
not to say anything before talking to me!
He obviously didn't care because
he asked Pablo to drive him there.
Bloody hell.
What is it you have to tell him
that is so important and can't wait?
Why don't you tell me?
D.A. ROBERTA CANDIA
Good day, pastor.
Yes.
Yes, I understand.
- Remigio is the one who killed Badajoz.
- What?
I can't get my head around it.
No. No, Dad, it's not impossible.
Has he been acting strange lately?
Did he do or say anything
that caught your attention?
- Like what?
- Something he's never done before.
- Did any money go missing, for instance?
- You want me to answer that?
You know Remigio has been doing my bidding
for years, carrying bags back and forth.
He never asks what's inside.
What's with the elevator?
I need to find out why he did it,
because I'm being interrogated.
Remigio would never lay a finger
on the church's money.
For him, that money is sacred.
If it's for the money
how would he profit
from killing Badajoz?
I need the elevator!
- Just a minute!
- Don't yell.
Listen, you're a public figure.
You can't yell like that.
You're a pastor.
We have to call your mother
and let her know.
There will be a lot of questions,
and our answers
will need to be coordinated.
Our church doesn't deserve this stain.
- Don't say a word, son.
- Pastor, please.
- Pastor, please!
- Pastor Emilio!
- No comment at this point.
- Anything to say?
- Excuse us. Excuse me.
- What's going on?
- Give us a statement.
- No comment.
We need a report on what happened.
Jesus fills us with blessings.
- Can you comment?
- Tell us what happened.
Careful, please.
- Pablo.
- Elena.
Oh.
- It's you, Emilio.
- I just left the DA's office.
Yes. I was waiting for your call.
- It was Remigio who killed Badajoz.
- Yes, I know.
How do you know?
It was Julio who told me.
- How does he know?
- He saw him.
He saw him?
But your favorite waited all night
before coming to tell us.
He could have knocked on our door.
- It's not like he's never done that.
- Elena, I don't understand it.
- Never mind.
- Elena?
Never mind. Just get back here,
and don't talk to anyone.
- Don't worry, Elena.
- Don't talk to anyone.
You are love ♪
Love ♪
Oh.
Oh, oh, oh ♪
See? Up at the end.
- Again from the top?
- Sure.
On the count of three,
get your first notes.
Oh, oh, oh ♪
Oh, oh, oh ♪
Oh, oh, oh ♪
You are love ♪
Love ♪
Oh, oh, oh ♪
Magdalena.
You too. Come over a minute, please.
I'll be right back.
Listen to me. For the next few days,
you will not be doing anything unusual.
Nothing new, nothing different.
Everything exactly the same
as we always do.
- Mm-hm.
- Is that clear?
- Yes, of course.
- Good.
It's what we're doing.
What makes you think
we'd do anything else?
Magdalena, just in case.
You've been known for getting
a bit creative sometimes, huh?
You come up with new schedules,
add chores, cancel appointments.
- But it's to make things better, Elena.
- Well
To bring more life to the church.
Besides, I think
I'm going to have to ask you,
please, Oscar, do not think.
Do me a favor, do only what I ask you to.
Can you do that?
Is it so difficult for you
to take orders from me?
- No.
- No. Of course not, Elena.
- We'll do whatever you say.
- One more thing.
In case you should receive a call
from the DA's office or the press,
you see nothing,
hear nothing, say nothing,
and you let me know immediately.
Is that clear?
- Mm-hm.
- Yes, we understand.
We hear nothing, see nothing,
we say nothing.
- Perfect.
- You can always count on us, Elena.
Is this why we live with your parents?
So that your mom can humiliate us?
It's time your family show us
the respect we deserve.
Is that too much to ask?
That's enough, Oscar.
Don't waste energy on my mother.
Sweetie, listen to me.
What's most important now is that
we focus on the new temple, okay?
- Mm-hm.
- Once we open it,
they'll realize
what we're made of, trust me.
I give you my word.
- You're absolutely right, my love.
- Mm-hm.
- It won't be much longer.
- No, won't be long at all.
Another one.
Is Tadeo inside?
Román! Román, have you seen Tadeo?
When did you find out?
I'm talking to you, Tadeo!
When the hell did you find out?
C Could you please calm down?
There are kids here.
I called more than a dozen times.
If you wanted me to stay calm,
you would've picked up.
Come.
This way.
That's very good, thanks.
Go help the kids inside.
Come.
Kneel with me.
Humor me. Open your hand.
Come on.
Put a few seeds every four inches.
Then cover them
so the birds don't eat them.
You knew what Remigio was planning.
Of course n-not.
I found out last night.
I went into his room,
found an arsenal laid out on his bed.
That's what I figured.
Remigio couldn't have done this alone.
Where would he get the weapons?
I I, I don't have the slightest idea.
There's one thing I really need to know,
one single thing to confirm my hypothesis,
- and I need you to be honest with me.
- Of course.
We both know Remigio.
We both know he's a bit of a freak,
an odd ball, someone
on the fringes of society,
but I don't believe he's a killer,
and much less that he has
a motive to kill Badajoz.
N-no. He didn't have
any motive to kill Badajoz.
Exactly. Now answer this.
Do you believe Remigio can be bought?
What are you getting at?
If he can be bought,
I think I know who's the buyer.
Do Do you know
the Parable of the Sower?
Jesus said, "While sowing,
some seeds were scattered
on the side of the path.
They were trampled and eaten by the birds.
Some seeds fell on rocky ground.
They sprouted, but the sun came up
and the seedlings withered.
Others fell among the thorn bushes,
but these were choked by the thorns.
But the ones that landed on good soil
sprouted
and produced a rich abundant crop."
I was a seed once.
You were a seed once.
Remigio also was once a seed.
But where do you think he fell?
I don't know, Tadeo.
This is not the time for parables.
I need to find out
why Remigio killed Badajoz.
Go and ask him.
Look at him in the eye
and ask him directly.
Remigio is our friend.
He He won't be able to lie to you.
I can't get to him.
- He can only speak to his lawyer.
- Then be his lawyer.
ANA VAZQUEZ PENA
ACCOUNTAN
How's it going?
- Okay, I guess.
- It's got to be immaculate, okay?
Mom, I've been covering up your schemes
since I became a CPA.
- Good.
- I know what I'm doing, okay?
HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS
TO CHURCHES
Don't call them schemes, dear.
Even if they were, they'd be our schemes.
We're all involved. The whole family.
And did I really have a choice
in the matter?
Nobody asked me if I wanted in. Please.
Set me free. I'll set up an office,
find me some clients.
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
So negative.
Will you be done soon
or will this take all morning?
It's gonna take me all day, Mommy.
There won't be any traces left.
But you do realize I could end up
going to jail?
Don't you? I signed those papers.
Don't worry. It's all good.
That money is protected.
Protected by what?
I hope you mean your God.
Because Dad's political connections
died off last night,
in case you haven't heard.
Finish that as soon as possible.
Motherfucker.
Tell me, uh
What's your game plan, Julio?
You lied when you said
you didn't know who killed Badajoz.
I sent you a bunch of texts, no answer.
It's not that.
I'm trying to
I don't wanna hear any excuses. Not now.
I want you to answer my question.
What's your game plan, Julio?
Because for me, the risk is too great.
I only have one way out: it's your pastor.
Now, listen up.
To make sure your pastor
holds up his end, I'm gonna need you.
Okay. I'll tell you
exactly what my theory is, Rubén.
Remember the riots yesterday at the arena?
Mm-hm.
I am pretty sure
that my father had a hand in it.
- Your father?
- I believe both incidents are related.
The riots and Badajoz's murder.
Plausible, coming from the great mind
of Zambrano Paz.
I'll need confirmation.
Can you put a tap on him?
- I don't do that.
- Of course not. You're here by chance.
No, I'm here because you
haven't picked up any of my calls.
No.
Where does your father
hold his private meetings?
- At his house, I suppose.
- Hm.
Go visit him. Come up with an excuse.
No way.
I called him yesterday about the riots,
but it's been years since I saw him,
or called him even. No.
- You have to go there to leave a wire.
- No. I won't do it.
Okay.
May I borrow your phone, please?
- Why?
- Humor me.
Could you unlock it for me, please?
Thank you.
DAD
Take charge.
- Hi, son.
- Hey, Dad.
I've been trying to reach you all morning.
I need to see you.
Come over. I'm at the office now.
I'd rather meet at your house. That okay?
Of course. It's still your home, you know.
You only have
to explain yourself to God.
Not to the DA,
not to the press, nor the party.
Only to God.
And he knows perfectly well
that you have nothing to do with this.
Unless you know something I don't.
No.
No, of course not.
But a man from my church
killed my presidential running mate.
And my church too.
It is our church.
Yes.
A man who, until yesterday,
was the best possible Christian.
How well did you know him?
Not at all.
A little, just from seeing him with Pablo.
But nothing in his behavior
made me suspicious.
And you, either. Don't blame yourself.
I'm not sure I'll be able to cope
with what's coming.
There's no candidate for president.
And I'm in line to replace him.
Well, so what?
You don't have to.
You're under no obligation.
It may not be an obligation,
but it is my responsibility.
There are agreements I need to honor.
That agreement
has nothing to do with politics.
It's with the church.
It's with our church.
The congregation. All of us.
Don't you think this is a sign from God?
What do you mean?
Then Jesus told his disciples,
"If anyone wants to come after me,
he must deny himself,
take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to live will die.
And whoever loses his life for my sake
and for the gospels
will live on."
Mark, 8:34.
It's in the Gospel, my love.
It's your opportunity.
Resign from politics and come back to us.
It's what I want most.
I need you.
I need all of you.
We need you too.
Will you help me?
Will you keep me
from falling into temptation?
I will. As I always have.
Will you stand by me?
For better and for worse.
In prosperity and adversity.
I'll get myself out of this.
I will, Elena.
Thank you, my love.
Those who are not with me
are against me.
This is the Word of God.
Emilio Vázquez Pena
is not only
the most important pastor in Argentina,
but also in all of Latin America.
But the path that led him to become
the leader of this vast religious empire
is strewn with suspicions.
At the core of transactions
linked to the underground economy.
Take a note.
Go see Walter.
Have him spread three or four
fake news stories about this idiot,
this reporter.
Don't know who he is. Find out. Okay?
Walter will tell you not to worry,
that he's a dickhead
with only a handful of followers.
I don't care. He's got to go.
If we don't stop him now, tomorrow it'll
show up in a blog with 500 followers.
Next day, in a paper with 3000 copies.
In four days, networks will pick it up,
even our own media
will start saying something.
- Okay.
- Listen.
Tell Walter
to show no mercy.
Stuff about drug use, family feuds,
sexual misconduct,
dirty money, I don't know. Whatever.
- Excuse me, ma'am.
- Yes?
There's someone here to see you.
Federico Galván, public defender
of Remigio Cárdenas
- Oh.
- appointed by Judge Larraín.
Glad you're here. Nice to meet you.
We've been expecting you.
Cárdenas has representation,
now we can move on.
Escort him to the cell block,
ask the guard to let him in.
- Sure. Of course.
- Can we meet up again later?
- Yes, absolutely.
- Follow me.
Open up, Javier.
He's here to see Cárdenas.
You know who he is, right?
The defense attorney.
You understand the significance
of Judge Larraín appointing him
and not another?
His name was drawn, Ramiro.
If Larraín is the judge
and Galván the defender,
there's a big chance the fix is in.
Ever talked to your doctor about
your fondness for conspiracy theories?
Roberta, I researched it.
Those two always wrap things up quick.
- I have a chart, I can show you.
- No, that's fine. No need.
It is not odd for a judge
to want to settle quickly.
Badajoz was murdered in front of hundreds,
the assassin pleads guilty.
Based on the pastor's reaction,
I have to conclude Cárdenas
acted alone, the pastor not involved.
Maybe he thought he was
doing him a favor. You know, like
holier-than-the-pope kind of thing.
Do Evangelists have a pope?
- No, they don't.
- No.
There's something else.
I don't buy that loony thing.
- Can I show you something?
- Sure.
- See this? Second one was near the stairs.
- Yes.
- Yes.
- One minute later, Sector B, on Camera 6.
Almost immediately, this one breaks out.
Security arrives into the men's room.
- One riot suppressed, another one starts.
- Mm-hm.
This was orchestrated to distract security
- and give free rein to Cárdenas. I'm sure.
- Yeah.
There's no way our guy
could've planned all this
and synchronized the riots alone.
It's elaborate.
No. I don't follow, but it's interesting.
Could you show me again? Slower.
- Sure.
- Show me.
- One by one, security cameras.
- Okay. Now switch to the?
- Okay.
- What's going on?
What's going on, guys?
He's a psycho. He almost killed me.
I'm gone.
You're not leaving. What happened?
He assaulted me. Tore my suit.
I was in physical danger. Goodbye.
Mr. Galván, come over here and explain
to me what happened, all right?
Maybe he's nuts and unfit for trial,
I don't know.
I do know he has the right to a lawyer,
and I have the right not to be his lawyer.
- I didn't kill Armando Badajoz.
- See? That's what I mean.
Now he says he didn't kill Badajoz.
Why do you mean you didn't kill him?
Now you're saying you're not guilty?
Are you aware
thousands of witnesses saw you?
I killed,
but I didn't kill Armando Badajoz.
I killed Pastor Emilio.
I sank the dagger in the church's banner.
I stabbed him in the back,
took the dagger,
the dagger's stained with blood.
Stained with blood of Pastor Emilio!
Cárdenas.
Are you learning just now that the victim
was Armando Badajoz?
I I did tell him
when I read him his rights.
- You found out when your lawyer told you?
- This man is not my lawyer!
My lawyer is Julio Clamens!
I want Julio Clamens!
I want Julio Clamens!
And then, Jesus cried out
with a loud voice:
"Elí, Elí!
Lamá, sabachtani."
Which means, "My God, my God,
why hast thou forsaken me?"
Today, I too
call you "Elí."
And not "Father."
Not because I reproach you abandoning me,
but rather because I believe
you did not abandon Jesus at the cross,
and you are not abandoning me today.
You put Jesus on that cross
so he'd fulfill the mission
you'd entrusted him with.
For him to resurrect three days later.
I still don't know
what it is you want from me
Blessed God.
But I am going to find out.
I will be faithful to you
and obey your command.
I am your servant,
oh, almighty and merciful God.
Thank you.
Thank you for forsaking me today
so I can rise again tomorrow.
Praise be to you, Almighty God.