Queen of the South (2016–…): Season 4, Episode 1 - Bienvenidos a Nueva Orleans - full transcript

Teresa expands her business and proves herself to a smuggler who offers her a business opportunity.

Previously on Queen of the South.

I'm sending you into exile.

Kill me now, or this won't
be the last you see of me.

It will if you want Isabela to live.

Tony, get down!

Brenda.

No!

You said you will protect me.

As soon as I make enough money,
I'll come for you.

I'm Castel Fieto.

I have connections in government.



You made a deal with my uncle
but not with me.

Isn't Reynaldo in charge of your family?

Selling on the dark web,
cutting out the middleman,

and turning product into champagne.

We did it.

Been hell of a ride,
but this is where I get off.

I'm gonna miss you.

You need to learn how to relax,

like your brother here. Look at him.

Oh, maybe he knows something I don't.

Oh!

_

We'll work together. We'll run Sinaloa.

You can count on that, Teresa Mendoza.



We need more men.

That's why we contacted
Javier Jimenez, Boaz's cousin.

He's one of the toughest cabrónes I know.

48 hours ago, we didn't have a supplier.

Now we own the corridor
all the way from Sinaloa

down to Phoenix.

- Salud.
- Salud.

Where are we going?

You'll see.

They say money is the root of all evil,

but that's the first place I look.

In God we trust.

Crazy, ain't it?

Running a cartel
is like driving a motorcycle

a hundred miles an hour in traffic.

Any miscalculation,

any mistake can have fatal consequences.

No one gives you a manual

on how to be the boss,

so every difficult decision

falls on you.

And when your people fail you,

as hard as it is,

you have no choice but to let them go.

History and human nature

have proven time and again

staying on top

is never bloodless.

- Jefa.
- Where are we?

Took six months to get
everything lined up.

You'll receive your shipment
by the end of the week.

Good. We'll talk soon.

You got it, boss.

Little something for date night.

What is this place?

30,000 square feet
of commercial property:

restaurants, stores,

a movie theater.

Our future.

You want to build a mall?

I want us to own legal businesses.

That's why we're expanding.

We already own a big piece
of the southwest.

Expanding could bring risk.

If we make more money,

we can buy more real estate.

We won't have to work with
people like Castel and Boaz

who even murder their own family.

You really think we could
be legit in the U.S.?

Many great American family fortunes

started with crime.

Why not us?

You can have your restaurant here.

What do you think?

Potemkin Cantina.

I like it.

Were you able to get a message to James?

No one's heard from him.

James is a ghost.

Everything okay at the port?

Why wouldn't it be?

It's just a truck full of cacti.

Load her up. Hey, principessa.

- How are you?
- Oh.

I'm good, happy as a clam.

Chuy.

- We finally have our product.
- We do.

What's Castel doing here?

It's a show of force.

I apologize for my unannounced visit.

I'm on my way to LA for a meeting,

and I wanted to come in person

to give you some really good news.

I pulled some strings with a friend

in the Mexican government, and...

you're no longer wanted for
the murder of Epifanio Vargas.

You must have powerful friends.

Mm-hmm.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

Why are you really here?

I have a problem.

A small group of Colombian farmers

are cutting into my business, and I heard

that they're getting ready
to ship to New Orleans.

You think I'm the buyer?

Are you?

I made a deal with you and only you.

I'm sorry for my suspicions,

but you know in this line of work,

there's an enemy in every corner.

That doesn't mean we need to create them

where they don't exist.

I bet on you, Teresa.

I appreciate that you did.

Thank you.

I have to go.

I'll let you know when
the next shipment is ready.

- Have a safe trip.
- Thank you.

That's not a show of force.

It's fear.

The agave was unloaded.

We're ready to bottle the product.

Now we're up and running, we
strictly dark webbing it again?

No, we need a distributor
to expand into the East Coast,

someone who can introduce us
to the major players.

- Javier has an idea.
- Raul Rodriguez.

He's a Cuban dealer out of Miami.

He moves about a ton a month
in Southern Florida.

And he has connections
all the way up to Canada.

Yeah, I heard of him.

Call him El Gordo
'cause he used to be the shape

of one of them roasted pigs
in Little Havana.

It's quite delicious, actually.

Didn't he do business with Epifanio?

Ay, and then Camila.

With both of them gone,

he was forced to become his own smuggler.

Which makes his deliveries unreliable.

There was a huge bust at the
Port of Miami last month, DEA.

That's why I think I can convince him

to do business with us.

Listen, I wanted to remind
you guys something:

no unnecessary violence.

Keep a low profile.

In this city, we are
legitimate business owners.

Okay?

Thank you.

I have a meeting at the bar.
See you guys later.

There's beer in the fridge.

Don't drink it all, cabrónes.

- Hey, Birdie.
- Hey.

What's going on?

Taste this magic elixir.

- Here you go.
- Thank you.

Mm-hmm.

- It's good.
- Yeah, of course it is,

'cause I made it with your fine tequila

and my dope mixology skills.

Mmm. What's it called?

The Teresita,

after your cute-ass nickname
for the boss.

Patróna, what took you so long?

It's a nice day. We walked.

René Bardot, the liquor board rep,

he's in your office, Teresa.

- Great. Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.

Spoke to one of El Gordo's men.
We're in luck.

He's in New Orleans for a cockfight.

Really?

His man told me
he raises his own roosters.

Likes to throw big over-the-top
underground fights.

- We should go.
- Ay.

Gracias.

Come with me.

Mr. Bardot.

I'm Teresa Mendoza.

This is Javier, my manager.

Says in your deed you got a co-owner,

George... Megalos?

What is that, Arab?

You know, only citizens
can get liquor licenses

in this place, Ms. Mendoza.

He's American and a busy man.

I'm in charge of the bar.

Well, I'm afraid I got bad news.

It's gonna take a couple more
months to get you approved.

What's the problem?

I put in applications six months ago.

Things move real slow around here,

and us government employees, well,

we're overworked and, uh,

underpaid.

Maybe I can help.

Javier...

_

And I don't accept pesos.

_

You better watch that
foul attitude, Pancho.

What did you call me?

- Hey, Javier.
- _

I think I can move you
to the front of the line.

You can finally open your doors.

Got us lunch.

You ever see me eat

inside my car?

A bar owner with two bodyguards...

That seems a bit strange to me.

You find out anything
about our new neighbors?

Yeah, they got a winery in Phoenix.

They make wine in Phoenix?

It all checked out. They're legit.

Nah, man.

This is New Orleans.
There ain't nothing legit.

It's time we introduce ourselves.

Thank you for the update.

Okay, bye.

That was Taza.

He says the last load from Phoenix

came in short five kilos.

All our product coming through Mexico.

I can only think of one person

who has the balls to steal from us:

Boaz.

If he's stealing from
the Southwest shipment,

he can blame it on Taza.

Jefa, you received the shipment?

Yes.

But we have a problem in Phoenix.

We're short five kilos.

You want me to send some men
to talk to Taza?

I don't suspect Taza.

I know you're not
accusing me of stealing.

All our product goes through you.

Teresa, I would never steal from you.

I give you my word.

Then mistakes are being made in Sinaloa.

If someone working for me

is stealing from you,

then I'm gonna take my blowtorch

and I'm gonna go from house to house

until someone gives up this
pinche pendejo ladrón.

I'm gonna shake the family tree.

No torturing innocent people.

Find out who it is and
make him pay back what he owes.

You gave me Sinaloa to run.
I'll run it my way.

You run it by my rules, Boaz.

As you wish, Jefa.

Hold up. Easy.

Just looking around.

Hello, gentlemen.

Unfortunately, we're not open yet.

That's okay.

Just wanted to come by your house,

check out what you did with the place.

Been about five other owners
of this bar before you.

Like, nobody could seem to, uh,
make any money up in here.

Hopefully, we can change that.

I'm Marcel Dumas.

My business associate, Bobby Leroux.

Teresa Mendoza.

I own a little jazz spot down
the way, so I guess you can

say that I'm the welcoming committee.

Bobby, please give the lady the pralines.

My wife makes those, yeah.

- Better than you can buy 'em.
- Thank you.

It's just a little gift

from the People of Color
Chamber of Commerce.

Marcel is the president
of the P triple C.

We're an informal organization.

It's just people of color

looking out

for other people of color.

You need the right friends in this town.

If I understand correctly, you, uh,

you're making your own tequila.

Ah, see, most of the locals,
they stick with rum

or bourbon.

That, uh... that agave...

That's hard to come by.

I guess you're just doing you.

We have an amazing bartender.

We hope we can add something

to the city's rich cocktail history.

I'm sure you will,
but I promise I'll come back

and, uh, check you out
during your opening.

Please.

Let me know if you need anything.

- Thank you.
- Yes, ma'am.

Undercover police?

I don't think so.

We're in for El Gordo's fight.

50,000 buy-in.

There's a dress code.

A dress code for a cockfight?

I miss Mexico.

Mira. There he is.

Okay, let's go.

_

This is crazy.

Put me down for 500.
Come on, baby, let's go!

Let's go!

That's right, 5,000.

Señor Rodriguez.

5,000, yes.

My name is Teresa Mendoza.

May I have a minute of your time?

Teresa Mendoza.

_

Well, if you know me, then you also know

I have the best product on the market.

Tasted it once, impressive.

You see him?

_

That's my boy, Papito.

Put your money on him.

I'm sorry. I don't gamble.

Ah, your loss.

_

- What are the odds?
- Five to one.

Mmm.

Ten grand on Papito's opponent.

Don't they call you El Gallo?

You should recognize a winner
when you see one.

You're gonna lose all your money.

But if I win,

I win big.

Five against Papito.

_

Like the man said.

"If I win, I win big."

More money for me.

Okay, flaca.

You wanted a minute of my time.
You got it.

Talk.

I know you never meant to be a smuggler.

I have a unique way of moving product

that is less risky.

I can offer you 20% off
the first shipment.

And 10% on any deals that...

Ladies and gentlemen,

for the first fight of the night,

we have the Everglades versus the bayou:

the Cuban missile, Papito,

versus the Cajun Killer, Rocky!

And we have a fight!

Go on, please.

There was a DEA raid in Miami.

I can help you with supply.

If I become your supplier and smuggler,

I could solve two problems for you.

I don't need your product, flaca.

I buy my shit from independent farmers.

I'm done with the
pain-in-the-ass cartels.

No offense, but you people
are always chopping off heads.

This is not how I run my business.

Well, congratulations,

but that doesn't change my mind.

_

_

_

The winner, Cajun killer Rocky.

_

Come on! What's going on?

Dale! Play some salsa!

This is supposed to be fun! Come on!

Come on, pay el galli his money.

This is about the only cash

you or your people will ever see from me.

Just give me a minute.

Orale.

You should put some ice on that.

Gordo used to be fun,

then he got the lap band.

- I think he's just hungry.
- It's still early.

I'm sure you can find
something fun to do tonight.

I gotta work.

I thought you were here
just for the fight.

And business.

But, uh,

maybe I can squeeze in
some time for pleasure.

Wanna meet up later?

Maybe.

What time are you done?

Around midnight.

Too late for me.

He has a load coming
into New Orleans tonight.

- How do you know?
- Miami's shut down.

Raul needed a new port of entry.

Castel said that her competition

was shipping to someone here,

and Cheo just told me
he's working tonight.

Are we making a move?

If he believes he doesn't need us,

he won't make a deal,

so we have to make him need us.

Let's go.

Cruise ship just came in
from The Bahamas.

It's the only one coming
into the port tonight.

All right.

Now we look for something
out of the ordinary.

That case could fit a hundred kilos.

Ah, it's too obvious,

though it would make a good
episode of I Love Lucy.

Check out the crew.

Now, why are their suitcases so big?

- Mm-hmm.
- It's The Bahamas.

All they need are a couple of bikinis.

See you later.

Who we got here?

Teresa's right.

El Gordo's got himself

a crappy rum run.

He needs us more than he knows.

Yo, that cute Mexican jeva
from the fight tonight,

she was flirting with me hard, bro.

I could've hit that
if I wasn't working so late.

_

Don't do anything stupid.

Give me your guns.

Get out of the car now.

Move! Back up!

I hate reggaeton.

Hey.

It's done. No problem.

Great. Thank you.

Have a good night.

Bye.

Gracias.

Patrona.

It's Boaz.

Que pasa, primo?

What's with this no torture policy?

People are going to lose respect for us.

The Jimenez name still means something,

but if we're soft, it won't for long.

Have you found who's stealing?

I'm still questioning people.

No one's talking.

Then keep at it.

He's still looking, patrona.

Gracias.

It's that bitch, Teresa Mendoza.

Okay, and then a splash of OJ.

I said a splash, not a shower.

Cocktails is too much work,
too many ingredients.

Tequila is clean.

Yeah, till you drink more than two.

Then it gets real dirty real fast.

How dirty we talking about?

You are nasty. You are really nasty.

Let's go, Pote.

Bye.

- Bye, girl.
- See you.

_

Let me tell you something.

When you act like a maniac,

people start suspecting you
of not being loyal.

Are you stealing from Teresa?

_

And just because
I question la jefa's style...

_

This nice guy crap that Teresa wants...

_

She doesn't kill people
as her first option.

Is it so hard to follow an order?

I'll do it

'cause I'm a good soldier.

- Teresa better not forget that.
- No. No, no, no.

Don't you forget that in this business,

we're all replaceable.

Are you threatening me, primo?

Just giving you a reality check.

Cabrón.

My boss lady wants you
to pay back what you stole.

I'm gonna take care of it for you.

I'm a generous man.

I'm not gonna touch your family,

just you.

What is this?

Your house.

Teresita.

This is too much. I can't.

Yes, you can.

Let's check inside.

Whoa.

Go inside.

Teresita!

_

Nobody has ever done
something like this for me.

You deserve it. You work hard.

You protect me. You counsel me.

You're my friend, my family.

How can I protect you if I stay here?

I'm gonna be too far from you.

You need your own house
to live your life.

After everything we've been through,

this is a new start.

It seems like since we moved here,

you need less of me.

Everyone I loved is gone, except for you.

I will always need you by my side.

It's Raul.

- Hello?
- Flaca,

I need to talk business with you.

Meet me at the same place
I had the fight.

I'll be there...

He wants to meet.

- It could be a trap.
- It is a trap.

He's a businessman.
He wants to make money.

We can make him money.

Let's go.

We are bringing guns, right?

Teresita?

Only you.

She doesn't go anywhere
without me, cabrón.

- No guns.
- No guns.

- Hey.
- I'm not armed.

Teresita.

I thought you didn't gamble, flaca.

I don't consider this a gamble.

This is for you.

Well, thank you.

But it doesn't seem like the
appropriate time for a toast

right before you're about to die.

It's a bottle of liquid cocaine.

This is how I smuggle my product.

This is cocaine?

Yes, a whole kilo.

We ship liquid,

and your people convert it into powder.

I've been using this system
for a year now.

The DEA hasn't caught us.

I want you to know

that I run this organization
like a normal business.

I can be a good partner to you.

Good partners don't steal
from each other.

My men got carjacked,
and my cocaine is gone

the very same day you came
looking to be my new supplier.

How about that, huh?

If I did that to you,

you think I would come here
with only one man by my side?

You're not a smuggler.

Anyone could have seen something

and followed your men.

My offer still stands,

and I can give you 50% discount
on the first shipment.

Ah.

I like money more than murder...

_

I tell you what.

If you can get that cocaine
to Miami in 48 hours,

you got yourself a new buyer.

_

I'll show up with an army.

Hm?

Thank you. Thank you very much.

I have a student in the audience tonight.

Thanks for clapping.
I'll pay y'all on my way out.

Good job, guys. I'll catch y'all later.

Didn't think you'd make it.

Me neither.

That was really nice.

We should get out of here.

- I know a place.
- Cool.

A lot of my friends abandoned
the city after Katrina,

but I put down even deeper roots.

Bought this old church.

I wanted to turn it into

a recording studio and performance space.

Mm. That's nice.

It was in real rough shape.

It's still in rough shape.

I've been doing all the work myself,

and it's given me a purpose.

That church saved me.

Saved you from what?

Story for another time.

I know what it's like to
work hard to build something.

Yeah?

Tell me about it.

Story for another time.

It was great seeing you play tonight.

How about you?

Still haven't done
the student recital yet.

I am not playing in public.

This is happening.

I'll make it simple,

just some scales.

You got it.

Once more.

All right.

D flat.

Marcel wants us on Mendoza's truck.

Let's go.

Hey, Chicho.

Pote sent you, right?

Ms. Mendoza.

Detective Randall Green,
New Orleans Parish Police.

You have a warrant?

This is not a request, Ms. Mendoza.

Go on now.

Go on.

Hello, Ms. Mendoza.

You must be somewhat confused.

Let me introduce myself.
I'm Judge Cecil Lafayette.

- Am I under arrest?
- Arrest?

Oh, because that little bit
of money you gave René?

No, darling, we just...

we just having a little
chitchat about those

two liquor licenses
you so desperately desire.

You see, René is just the gatekeeper.

I'm the decision-maker.

I'm new to New Orleans.

I'm just starting to know
how it all works.

Let me... let me help you.

To run a business in my city,
you need to pay taxes,

and those taxes shall be remitted

to yours truly.

Why don't we make it easy for you,

10,000?

Renovating was expensive.

I don't have anything liquid.

It'll take me a couple of weeks.

Mm, couple of weeks, mm.

You like roses?

Most people think
they're difficult to grow,

but they're just demanding little ladies.

They need six to eight hours
of sun a day,

lots of space so their roots
can spread out.

But you know what the key ingredient is

to a prize-winning rose?

Blood.

Now, most botanists will tell you

you can use blood meal from an animal.

It has all the nitrogen she needs.

But I'm of the mind
that this lady has thorns

for a reason.

She lusts for what runs
through our human veins.

Luckily, blood

we have in spades.

I'll give you two days.

Have a blessed evening.

Little girl thinks
she can turn Bourbon Street

into Tequila Street.

Well, this town's gonna drive her back

to whatever hovel she crawled out of.

- Hello?
- Teresa.

Tony?

Someone's trying to kill me.

Tony!

Tony!