The Asunta Case (2024) s01e05 Episode Script

1
BASED ON A TRUE STORY
- [clamoring]
- [background chatter]
[suspenseful music playing]
[male voice] She must've been exhausted
by the time she got her in the car.
[suspenseful music continues]
[male voice] About four more,
that should do it.
Damn. That feels right.
A couple more, that's good
- [rustling]
- [male voice] Pretty close.
- [rustling continues]
- [male voice] That's it Almost there.
[Clara] What are you doing, Javier?
[Ríos groans] I couldn't sleep.
Hey, let me ask you something. [groaning]
- About how much do you weigh?
- [Clara] What?
How much do you weigh? About 130, right?
- I weigh about 115, but what's this for?
- Hold it up. Hold up.
- You'll wake your granddaughter.
- I need you to tell me
Could you take this down the stairs,
without using the handles?
Javier, honey, please don't do this.
[breathing heavily] Excuse me.
And up!
[breathing heavily]
- [thud]
- [grunts]
- Carry it down. Please.
- I think I could drag it.
[Ríos] Just don't use the handles.
Wait All right.
- Okay. Go.
- I don't know what you're up to,
but you're covering my physical therapy.
[thudding on stairs]
- [Clara straining]
- [tense music playing]
[thudding continues]
[grunts]
[breathes deeply]
I have to go to work.
- [Clara] Now?
- Yes, now. Now.
- [Clara] It's not even 6 a.m.!
- I'll explain later.
THE ASUNTA CASE
[doorbell ringing]
[footsteps]
[doorbell continues ringing erratically]
[annoyed] Who is it?
- [Cristina groans] What?
- [doorbell rings again]
What are you doing here?
Did something happen?
- Are you okay?
- [Ríos] Yeah
- [Cristina] Yeah? Yeah.
- Can I come in?
What time do you go to the doctor?
- At 4 p. m.
- Oh, okay, that's perfect.
Uh, hi there, Antonio.
You want churros? Is there coffee?
They're still hot. What do you say?
- No, thanks. But
- No? I'm sorry.
[Ríos] There's something I figured out.
I need to run it by you, okay?
I could really use some coffee. Please?
[Ríos] I'm so sorry about this, Christina.
It's just, I couldn't get to sleep.
- All right.
- [groans]
[Ríos] So I was thinking.
What do we know? That, uh, that
Sorry. There are traces
of lorazepam found in her hair.
This was three months
the girl was drugged.
So, the whole summer, right?
What happened on July 9th?
The first time
her teacher noticed an issue.
[Ríos] Her first time feeling dizzy.
Who was she staying with?
With Basterra. With her father, right?
He took care of everything,
he bought the medication,
he was taking care of her, everything.
Sure.
Let's assume, for some reason,
I don't care why, for some random reason,
on the night of July 9th,
he wants to go out,
have some time for himself.
He has the idea to drug Asunta,
but it's not premeditated.
Out of nowhere, yeah?
And Porto finds out about it.
They have an argument.
They don't take her to the doctor,
because the doctor would know
what Basterra had done.
Rosario spends the whole summer with him.
With an ex who made her promise
to never see her lover again.
The woman is is like
a string wound tight, about to break.
- You know?
- A string that's getting pulled tighter.
Right. The tension keeps
getting tighter and tighter,
over an entire summer.
She can't take it,
she meets her lover again
and breaks her promise to Alfonso.
On Friday 20th, she comes back home
to spend the night with Alfonso,
thinking that he has no idea.
But Alfonso finds out about it.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2013
[clock ticking]
[ominous music playing]
VICENTE: I LOVED SEEING YOU AGAIN
TWO MONTHS WITHOUT YOU WAS TOO LONG
[elevator whirring, clunking]
[doorbell rings]
[Alfonso] Coming!
Asunta, Mommy's here!
Hm. Doesn't she look beautiful?
- Did you enjoy the exhibition in Vigo?
- It was great.
[Alfonso] I can imagine.
You love museums, so you must
have had the time of your life.
Mm. Yeah.
- Mommy!
- Hi sweetie.
- [Asunta] What's for lunch?
- [Alfonso] A mushroom scramble.
- [Asunta] Mmh
- [Alfonso] What do you mean "mmh"?
[Asunta] I don't like the texture
of the mushrooms.
Can we play Continental Rummy?
First, finish your plate.
We can play cards later.
No games while we're eating,
you know that.
Listen to your father
and when we're done we'll play Escoba.
You still have homework,
so we can't stay long, all right.
[Alfonso] Here we go, gold coins.
I've never seen someone so good.
You're impossible to beat. Wow.
Maybe you're cheating?
- You wish, Dad!
- [Alfonso] Hmm.
I'm just smarter than you!
Oh, yeah, much smarter
Come on.
Head straight home, Asunta.
Mommy's right behind you.
We have some stuff to talk about. Okay?
- [Asunta] Okay.
- Great. Bye.
- [keys jangling]
- [locks door]
- [ominous music playing]
- What happened?
You've been lying again.
- [Rosario] What?
- You're always lying.
You're lying to me again.
Where were you yesterday?
In Vigo, I told you that.
I know for a fact you weren't in Vigo.
What was the exhibition? Hm, tell me?
I was in Vigo.
[scoffs]
One request.
I only had one request.
In return, I gave you my life.
That you never again see that asshole.
You broke your promise. How could you?
- I promised?
- My one request. You betrayed me!
- What promise, Alfonso?
- Yes, yes.
[Rosario] You and I are separated.
What promise?
Don't act stupid now. Huh?
[Rosario] Please, give me the keys.
Asunta's on her own.
You care about that now?
She was alone yesterday, right?
- Give me the keys, please.
- Going to see that lowlife tonight? Huh?
Not a chance.
You have a daughter to take care of.
- Give me them, please.
- Vermin. What the fuck is wrong with you?
- [Rosario] Give me the keys.
- Asunta is our daughter.
Yours and mine. Asunta binds you to me.
I'm here forever. You won't get rid of me.
- [Alfonso] Never.
- [keys jangling]
- Do you want your keys now?
- Yes.
There's the fucking keys.
[somber music playing]
[shakily] I can't find the keys,
you threw them.
[sobbing] Where are they?
Will you help me, Alfonso?
Where are the keys?
[Rosario crying] I can't find them.
[breathing shakily] Oh!
[exhales]
[grunts]
[door slams]
[tense music playing]
[breathing heavily]
[Alfonso] You've been lying again.
You're lying to me again.
Who takes care of you like us?
Asunta and I are your family.
There's no room for anyone else.
You betrayed me!
You've been lying again. Adulterer.
Did he fill your little holes
here in our house?
does this to her family?
In my face
You answer me! You're an adulterer!
[repeated, overlapping dialogue
from Alfonso]
[overlapping dialogue gets louder]
[overlapping dialogue speeds up]
[overlapping dialogue fades]
[Asunta] Mommy?
- Yes.
- [Asunta] Hey.
[sets down keys]
[clock ticking]
[somber music playing]
[popping pills from packet]
[crushing pills]
[tense music playing]
- [Asunta] Mommy!
- [music stops]
[Asunta] I'm thirsty.
Can I get something to drink?
[ominous music playing]
[Rosario] Here, sweetie.
[Asunta] Thanks.
[fretful music playing]
[fretful music builds]
[music fades]
[door unlocking]
[Asunta] I feel light-headed, Mom.
Light-headed?
[Asunta] Yeah, I think
I might have food poisoning.
[clock ticking]
Let's go to the country house.
- [Asunta] To Montouto?
- Yeah.
[Asunta] Can I just stay home, Mom?
Or go to Dad's?
I have to finish my homework.
And I'm still light-headed.
All the more reason!
Come with Mommy, I'll take care of you.
[Asunta] Mm okay.
Okay. One second.
Don't forget your jacket.
Mom has to grab a bag.
SUPERMARKE
OPEN 24 HOURS
I'm tired. I'm going upstairs.
[keypad beeping]
- [dogs barking in distance]
- [footsteps on stairs]
[footsteps upstairs]
[rattling upstairs]
[suspenseful music playing]
- [drawer opening]
- [plastic rustling]
[suspenseful music builds]
[grunting, sobbing]
[panicked breathing]
[music stops]
[Rosario breathing heavily]
- [somber music playing]
- [water rippling]
[crying]
[gasping]
[groaning]
[grunts, gasps]
[Rosario grunting]
[breathing heavily]
[scratching]
[ominous music playing]
[Rosario breathing heavily]
[keypad beeping]
[neighbor] Hey, Charo! How are you?
It's been a minute.
- [Rosario] Yeah!
- [neighbor] Hey
- How's Asunta? She must be getting tall?
- We've been so busy.
She's great. She at the house
doing her homework.
I'm in a rush, Juancho. Sorry.
[Juancho] Don't worry about it.
Be careful driving, it's the festival
- and you know how things get.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[Juancho shouts] Hey! Charo, your lights!
[tense music playing]
[suspenseful music playing]
[music fades]
[car approaching]
[breathing shakily]
[softly] Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Bless the bed that I lay on.
Matthew, Mark
As I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
[door opening]
[keys jangling]
[cellphone pings]
[whirring]
[cellphone alerts pinging]
7 MISSED CALLS - ALFONSO
- [cellphone ringing]
- [breathing heavily]
- [Alfonso] Charo.
- Alfonso. [voice shaking]
- The girl
- [Alfonso] What's wrong with her?
Come.
- [Rosario] Please, come.
- Charo, what's happened?
[Rosario] Come. [gasping]
- [call drops]
- Charo!
[line beeping]
[door unlocking]
Charo. Charo!
Charo!
As Asunta!
Charo?
- [knocking on door]
- Charo!
Charo, open up.
Just open the door, please.
Charo, where is she? Wh what's wrong?
You're scaring me, open the door!
What happened?
What What is it?
It's all right. What's wrong?
Where's Asunta? What happened?
[Rosario moaning]
- [Rosario] I did what you did. Forgive me.
- [Alfonso] Where is she now?
- Alfonso, our girl's gone.
- Gone where?
- Things just spun out of control
- Where? Where is she?
- Where's our daughter?
- I gave her pills.
A lot of pills, Alfonso.
I gave her pills and she was fine,
[crying] but I lost control.
Where did you leave her? Where is she?
I gave her too many.
I'm so sorry. [sobbing]
- Where is she?
- [Rosario] She's gone, Alfonso.
Gone, where? Where is she now?
I had no control.
- We have to report it to the police.
- No, no, no!
- Please don't, please, no police
- What?
- I'm begging.
- Where is she?
[crying] I left her near
It was near Teo.
- Close to
- We have to go get her right now.
- [Rosario] No, no, no!
- And call the police!
- Not the police! Not the police.
- What are you saying?
- Not the police.
- What have you done?!
- I would tell them about other things.
- Charo. Wait
- What are you saying?
- To the police
[Alfonso] Where? Is she okay?
[Alfonso pleading] Charo.
I just lost control.
She fell asleep. Honey, please.
Forgive me. Forgive me
[Rosario continues sobbing]
- [Alfonso] What did you do?!
- [Rosario] I'm sorry
[Alfonso] Where is she?!
What did you do?!
[both sobbing]
Alfonso
[suspenseful music playing]
[Cristina] Yeah, but if that's the case,
why didn't Alfonso say anything?
[Ríos] He'd have to admit
that he drugged his daughter.
He was afraid of what people might say.
It's so much worse going to prison
for years for murdering your daughter.
I just think that a man like him cares
a lot about how he comes across to people.
He wants to protect his image. Right?
How'd it look if he drugged the girl
to go shopping, or whoring, or worse?
If you have a different theory,
I'd love to hear it.
[Cristina] He's not gonna like this.
I hope you have a plan.
[Ríos] Well, I brought churros.
[Alfonso] Ladies and gentlemen,
the world-famous pianist, Asunta Basterra.
- [Asunta] And the best.
- [Alfonso] Careful.
- [Asunta] Smile for the camera, Dad.
- [Alfonso] Okay, I'll smile.
So, what are you playing for us today?
[man] Are you ready? Let's go.
[Asunta playing piano on video]
[Alfonso] That's a new one?
- [man] You're still watching that?
- [Garrido] Yeah. I have to finish it.
Go ahead without me. Hm?
[man] Try to get there
before dessert, okay?
I promise, honey.
[piano music continues on video]
- [music stops]
- All right. Let's get going.
You have your winter jacket? Good.
Give me a kiss. Hm?
- I'll be right there.
- [door opens, closes]
- [line ringing]
- [Garrido] JJ, it's me.
Look, I was going over
everything we have so far.
I still don't understand
some of the details.
I just fear that it's not in our interest
to have a joint defense on this one.
The damaging evidence
doesn't implicate Alfonso.
I mean, at least not as strong
as what connects to Rosario.
[exhales] Yep.
This place is classy.
Mhm. The fresh ocean breeze
helps me think clearer.
Did you think about what I said?
Do you remember where you were
when you first learned
about the girl's death?
Having lunch at my in-law's.
I was at Casa Donato,
with a plate of scallops in front of me.
The news was on the TV, then.
And I have to say, honestly,
that from that moment on,
and for no apparent reason,
I knew in my heart
that they were innocent.
Both of them?
Yes, it's true that, so far,
all the evidence
that's been shown is incriminating.
I still don't think
they killed her, despite it.
Come on, Elena.
What is the reason,
from the evidence that's been shown,
to prove she's been lying?
It's not about that.
During the investigation,
Rosario said she couldn't recall
where she left the girl.
Well, I talked to her psychiatrist.
He said it's not unusual for a person
in a situation as stressful as this one
to suffer from mental blocks,
that it's normal.
And Rosario was on medication.
All right. But if she's telling the truth,
how come a camera didn't capture Asunta
and her returning to the house together?
She might not have gotten home.
[Garrido] You know
that's not what matters.
This is about convincing the jury
they're telling the truth.
The situation Rosario's in
isn't the same as Alfonso's, JJ.
So, look, if you want us
to go ahead with the joint defense,
the narrative has to be united,
and exculpatory. Right now it's split.
I think the priority is pointing out
all of the irregularities they have
in this clearly
biased investigation, Elena.
On top of that,
all the contradictions and inconsistencies
in the version of the story
presented by the District Attorney.
All the gaps
they still have yet to explain.
- [Cristina] Your Honor.
- [Ríos] We wanted to discuss
a couple of things with you, sir.
What things?
Could you be clearer for me?
Sounds like you're gonna mess up my day.
It'll only be a minute.
I brought churros,
but they got cold, sorry.
JUDGE
Rios, Ríos. You need more sleep,
and your brain will work better.
[Ríos] We don't have
a single piece of evidence.
Yeah? That Alfonso
left the house that evening,
let alone went to the house
in the country with the girl.
- So that means he was never in Montouto?
- [Ríos] Sorry, sir, but look at the facts.
I mean, the alarm was reconnected
at 8:53 p.m., was it not?
And Alfonso's phone sent a signal
to the antenna in Santiago at 8:47, right?
Six minutes before that!
If, as you say,
he was at the country house,
how was he also in Santiago?
- His car hasn't showed up on any cameras.
- Not one.
Come on, Come on.
It's obvious they planned everything
and thought it through.
None of the cameras
have captured Alfonso, right?
Maybe he was in the back seat
of the car lying down on the way.
- But there's no way to prove it.
- Hey, give me that.
What we know for sure is that
it'd be impossible to drug her for months
without both of them knowing.
Or do you disagree?
Do you really buy that?
That a father doesn't notice his kid
walking like a zombie for all that time?
Call me crazy,
but that girl knew that her parents
were making her feel sleepy all weekend
with that white powder. Mhm?
That's not all she knew about.
Maybe they killed
their parents for inheritance,
or they did inappropriate things to her.
Her parents found out
that she was about tell it all.
They decided to murder her.
Trust me. Don't make this complicated.
Basterra and Porto knew it was time
to get rid of their daughter
because she was about to report them.
[ominous music playing]
The girl knows everything.
She asked me about it but I avoided it.
She won't forget about it.
You know how she is.
You've seen her blog?
You'll see what I mean.
What should we do, then?
If she talks, we're going away, Charo.
I wish there was another solution.
But there must be something else.
[Alfonso] If you want to look
the other way, like always, that's fine.
But I can't.
Will you be the mother
of a girl that's disappeared?
Or rot in jail for something avoidable?
You'll never make it in jail.
[doorbell rings]
[Alfonso] Did you think about what I said?
Hm?
Good.
We gave her twelve happy years.
Better than the life she would've had
in that horrid orphanage.
[oil sizzling in pan]
[ominous music playing]
Mommy's right behind you. Hm?
We have some stuff to talk about.
Don't worry.
Like Sophocles said,
"To the man who's afraid,
everything rustles."
BARTLEBY, THE SCRIVENER
AIRPLANE MODE
ACTIVATE AIRPLANE MODE
ENABLE
[music fades]
[suspenseful music playing]
Double park the car out front
and wait for us. Hurry up.
[thud]
- [Alfonso whispers] Careful.
- [door opens]
[door closes]
- [knocking on door]
- [Alfonso] Can I come in?
Yeah.
[Alfonso] Mommy's going to Montouto.
To pick up some swimsuits.
I thought we'd go with her,
so she's not alone.
Mm, I still have homework
to do, all right?
[Alfonso] Hey, it's Saturday.
All summer you've been going back
and forth and we've barely hung out.
I need to charge my phone.
[Alfonso] It'll be here when you get back.
Let's go get some fresh air, hm?
I guess I have all weekend.
[Alfonso] Come on,
you can finish it tomorrow.
Let's go.
[Alfonso] Come on.
Here, get up.
[engine running]
Asunta, you can take shotgun.
- Really, I can?
- Sure.
Put on your seatbelt.
[ominous music playing]
SUPERMARKE
OPEN 24 HOURS
[music fades]
[ominous music playing]
[alarm keypad beeping]
[Rosario whispering] I can't.
I can't. No, no, no.
[whispering] We're doing this together.
Don't forget that.
You're not alone.
No.
Come on. Let's go.
Wait. I can't.
We have to.
We have to. Come on.
[ominous music builds]
- [music fades]
- [muffled coughing, fades]
[tense music playing]
[Alfonso breathing heavily]
Now what happens?
Wait for it to get dark.
I'll go to Santiago and turn on my cell.
I'll need at least an hour, no less.
After that time, reconnect the alarm.
- No, no. Shouldn't we be together?
- Everything's going to be all right.
Take your time driving
and leave her where we talked about.
- I have to go. Don't forget. One hour.
- Yes.
Don't worry, honey. Don't worry.
Call me when you get home.
I'll be waiting. Okay?
- Open the gate.
- Ah!
[keys jangling]
[gate opens]
[keys rattling in lock]
[door opens]
[door closes]
AIRPLANE MODE
[cellphone beeps]
[suspenseful music playing]
[alarm keypad beeping]
[fireworks exploding]
[cellphone ringing]
[accepts call]
[Alfonso] How did it go?
[Rosario whispering]
There was a police checkpoint,
I had to take another route.
I left her where I could.
There was no other choice.
Don't worry, my darling. You did great.
[Rosario] What have we done, Alfonso?
What have we done?
What's best for everyone.
We're still here. That's all that matters.
[Rosario] What does that mean?
- Adversity brings us closer, my love.
- [Rosario] What?
- [Alfonso] We'll be more united than ever.
- [Rosario] What?
- [Alfonso] You and I.
- [Rosario] What?!
- You won't have to go through this alone.
- [Rosario] No. [sobbing]
[Alfonso] Remember to call her friends.
So there's evidence.
I love you so much, honey.
- [Rosario crying]
- [call ends]
[music fades]
According to your theory,
it was Alfonso who planned it all.
[Malvar] Rosario couldn't
even buy groceries on her own.
- She couldn't do anything by herself.
- [phone ringing]
Of course he's the brains behind it all.
[Ríos] Hang on, Your Honor,
with all due respect.
How did Alfonso get
from the place in Montouto to Santiago?
Well, with all due respect,
heel toe express.
And no one saw him?
Do you remember
all the people you don't know
that you walked by this morning?
- Gimme a break.
- [knocking on door]
Look at me and tell me
he shouldn't be in prison.
All that we're saying is we don't have
a single shred of proof, Your Honor.
Not one thing
that shows Alfonso was in the street
that day near Montouto,
- or back in the city.
- Nothing. Not on any cameras.
As much as you want that,
there's nothing that supports it.
Come here.
- A woman and girl in the waiting room.
- [Malvar] Come in.
Tell them who they are.
It's a classmate of Asunta
from her French class, and her mother.
[Malvar] Go on, please, tell them.
Um according to the girl,
she saw Asunta walking with her dad
on September 21st,
minutes before she was taken to Montouto.
[Malvar] Thank you. Call Belategui.
[door opens, closes]
You two wanted proof, right?
Why are you telling us
two months after the murder
and not when
you first heard about the case?
At the time, with all the media attention,
I was protective of her.
I wanted to keep her out of it.
I figured someone had
to have seen Alfonso with Asunta.
But as time went by with no one saying
anything, I felt we had to come forward.
I agree, you've made
the right choice coming here.
[Malvar] Tell me, Laura.
Are you sure it was 21st September?
Yes.
[Malvar] And the people you saw
were Asunta and Alfonso Basterra?
- You're absolutely certain?
- Absolutely.
It was. Asunta was in my French class.
She was much younger,
but she was in my class.
I would see her father around town.
I went to buy sneakers with my boyfriend
and saw them at the intersection
of General Pardiñas
and República del Salvador.
[Pedro] I see.
This is important, Laura,
are you sure about the date?
You're sure it wasn't
another day you saw them?
It's been a long time.
Yes, because the next day,
when I found out Asunta had been murdered,
I told my boyfriend and my mom.
It was that day. Alfonso left his house.
Would you be willing
to state this as official testimony?
It can be a little more difficult.
It's important. I saw them.
Very well.
CHARACTERS AND SCENES ARE DRAMATIZED.
POLICE AND COURT STORYLINES
ARE ALTERED FOR NARRATIVE FLOW.
[somber music playing]