The Night Agent
Season 3 – Episode 7
Episode title: Once Upon a Time…
Original release date: February 19, 2026
Plot: In 1995, corporate lawyer Monroe is blackmailed into spying on his employer, Zapata, who the CIA suspect is an arms trafficker. He also starts dating Zapata’s employee Sofia De Leon in secret, and discovers the value of playing both sides and trading information. Monroe is led to believe Zapata killed Sofia suspecting she was the mole, and the CIA refused to help her. However, in 2011 he uses his skills and intel to blackmail his former handler, who confirms Sofia gave birth to Isabel before dying in prison after being framed for Zapata’s crimes. With Monroe identified, the government starts investigating his businesses and trusts. The Father pursues Monroe, who locks himself in a safe room. He bargains with Peter for help in exchange for intel on the next LFS attack, and all corrupt agents and politicians he owns. Peter reluctantly rescues him with Adam, and Monroe provides him a rare misprint of Grimms’ Fairy Tales used as his personal intel database cipher. However, Peter is kidnapped by The Father during the extraction.
Transcript
Note for Students & Writers: This transcript is archived here for educational purposes, critical analysis, and screenwriting study. All rights belong to the original creators.
[ominous music playing]
[whistles blowing]
[indistinct chatter]
[train horn blaring]
[indistinct chatter]
[music fades]
[indistinct chatter]
[man] You are early.
[in Spanish] “On time” is five minutes late.
I’m honored to finally meet you, Mr. Zapata.
Look at that!
They sent a gringo who speaks Spanish!
Do I have to call you “Mister Monroe”?
Jacob will do just fine.
Shall we?
[indistinct chatter]
[Monroe] It’s not just the U.S.
My clients are expanding into Europe, Latin America.
Demand is exploding, their domestic suppliers can’t keep up.
Which is why they sent a smooth-talking lawyer to screw me.
So they can buy my product for fucking pennies, and then sell it for triple the price.
Sir, I assure you, the only reason I’m here is because my client believes a partnership with Zapata Solvents and Soaps would present an unprecedented opportunity.
Relax, I’m messing with you.
[Zapata laughing]
You need cheap soap to sell to white ladies at a high price.
I need a partner to put in cash, if I’m going to keep growing.
I may not be my father, but I’m smart enough to recognize a win-win.
Then it sounds like you’ve fallen right into my evil lawyer trap.
Sofia!
Come meet the gringo lawyer.
I’ll leave him to you.
[in English] Sofia De Leon, new head of operations.
Jacob Monroe.
[Sofia] I know.
The Americans sent you to put us through our paces, right?
Due diligence is an important part of any deal, especially one of this size.
You can never be too careful with who you choose to partner with.
But it goes both ways.
You are under evaluation as well, Mr. Monroe.
And how am I doing so far?
Jury’s still out. But I’ll let you know your score when it’s ready.
[Zapata] Jacob.
[in Spanish] Before passing away, my dad hired her so I don’t fuck up.
[Zapata chuckling]
[chuckling] Or try, at least, right?
Some things aren’t possible.
[both chuckling]
[in English] How long are you in town for?
In success? Until the deal closes.
Considering the scope of this endeavor, uh, months, at least.
Well, then I imagine I need to get used to seeing you around.
I’m afraid so.
[Sofia] Yeah.
[in Spanish] Let’s go.
[in English] Bye.
[pensive music playing]
[Zapata in Spanish] On this side is where they package everything, and back there is where all of the production is.
[Monroe in English] Yeah.
[birds chirping]
[indistinct chatter]
[music fades]
Can I help you?
[woman] Hmm.
Can I get a margarita with the spicy salt, please? Thanks.
American, right?
I have a sense for these things.
So, what brings you south of the border?
Uh, business. Legal consultant.
An American doing business in Mexico?
[woman breathing deeply]
That’s gotta be a lot of red tape. Bet that’s a pain.
[Monroe inhaling deeply]
If you’ll excuse me, I have some work to finish up.
Mr. Monroe, sit down.
[tense music playing]
Who are you? What is this?
You can call me Costa. And this is a bribery investigation.
Bribery investigation?
[chuckling] I’m a legitimate businessman.
Well, I just spoke to a man named Carlos Diaz who can testify otherwise.
What, the consultant?
He helped us get set up here, but I haven’t had contact with him in at least a year.
Well, he showed me documents containing your signature, authorizing your company to wire him a quarter of a million dollars.
And, wouldn’t you know it, that money ended up in the mayor’s office.
[mouthing] Thank you.
American companies use Diaz to help with the bureaucracy down here.
If you’re telling me his methods are–
His methods are bribes, Jacob.
And I don’t believe that a guy as smart as you’re supposed to be couldn’t connect those dots.
Which makes you an accessory to multiple felonies.
That’s ridiculous.
Well, I’m sure I can get a Mexican judge to think it isn’t.
What, are you trying to blackmail me?
[Costa] Mm-mm.
I wanna offer you a job.
I just like to start my negotiations from a position of strength.
You see, my organization has reason to believe that your new buddy, Raúl Zapata, isn’t exactly coloring inside the lines.
You’re gonna help me prove it.
Or I make a call, and you spend the next five to eight in a Mexican prison, which would be… well… not like this.
I’m an American. I’ll go to the embassy.
The American government–
[Costa] Jacob. Buddy.
Who do you think my organization is?
The CIA?
See?
You are smart, when you put in a little effort.
[slurping]
[Costa breathing deeply, sighing]
[Costa] Welcome to the team.
You’ll be hearing from me.
[sinister music playing]
[opening theme music playing]
[Isabel] You’ve reached Isabel De Leon at The Financial Register.
Leave a message.
[inaudible]
[inaudible]
[Dani] That was Durham.
The feds are at his door.
He’ll stall as long as he can, but they already have warrants out for six of your businesses.
What about the trusts?
He says it’s only a matter of time.
[tense music playing]
[Monroe breathing deeply, sighing]
[cell phone vibrating]
Isabel.
Are you all right?
Yeah, I’m okay.
[siren chirping]
[Monroe] Thank God. Where are you?
[Isabel] I’m at the hospital. Are you hurt?
No, but Jay was. But he’ll be okay.
Oh…
Listen, I… I can explain everything, but you have to know I would never knowingly put you in danger.
Say yes. Let him think that–
I– You won’t stop lying and twisting.
I am tired of you keeping me in the dark. I’m not a child.
[Monroe] I’m your father.
I’m trying to become a better person.
Just…
give me one last chance.
Fine.
I’ll send you a location in Tribeca. Meet me there in an hour.
[inaudible]
Um, I’ll be there.
Stay safe.
You too.
[music fades]
Look, we’ll get a team in place. He won’t get away this time, okay?
Good.
Listen, are you sure you wanna be wrapped up in all this?
I mean, you can just keep your distance. Let us handle it. It’s fine.
He’s a monster, right?
Do what you need to do.
[pensive music playing]
[siren wailing in distance]
[in Spanish] What’s wrong, dude?
{\an8}Yeah, sorry.
I haven’t been getting much sleep lately.
Ah yes, this city will do that.
Pace yourself–
I’ve seen it chew up tougher gringos than you.
I’ll try.
But if you don’t want to try, let me know. [clearing throat]
Maybe I show you some things they don’t put in the guidebooks.
[Zapata chuckling]
As I was saying, I know you’re in a tough position, but you need to tell your bosses that asking for 38% of the company, a company that my father built with his fucking hands… you’re making me look like a fool.
I’m authorized to go up another six million if you’ll go to 40.
[Zapata sighing heavily]
That’s a good deal.
Got to go. Write it up and then we’ll talk. [chuckling]
[suspenseful music playing]
[in English] What are you doing?
Oh, this is embarrassing.
Uh, I came here thinking that I was fluent in Spanish.
I mean, I minored in it, but sometimes I don’t know what the hell Raúl’s talking about.
So I snuck a peek at some, uh… some notes from the meeting to fill in the gaps.
[Monroe panting]
[Sofia breathing deeply, sighing]
Your secret’s safe with me.
You know, an American university is only gonna teach you stuffy Spain Spanish.
Chorizo, vosotros, all that.
That’s why you can’t always understand Raúl.
[chuckling] I mean, I’m not, um, completely clueless.
I mean, I know everybody’s Spanish is different, but Raúl was speaking… something else.
[Sofia chuckling]
I won’t argue with you there.
[tender music playing]
Can I buy you an horchata?
No.
But I could go for an orange juice.
And I do like how you say “horchata.”
[both chuckling]
[Monroe] Gracias.
[indistinct chatter]
Oh wow. This is amazing.
Because it comes from an orange and not a factory.
And it’s next to my favorite place in the city.
Come on.
Are you looking for something in particular?
Uh, no. I just like it here.
It’s quiet.
[music fades]
Come on, I… I can help.
My dad really wanted me to learn English when I was little.
But, um, we didn’t have money for international schools.
So instead, he’d read to me every night from an English copy of Grimm’s Fairy Tales.
Blue with gold leaves on the cover.
I must have heard every story in that book a hundred times.
And then, when I was old enough, I’d read to him to practice.
Did you ever?
I’ve seen the cartoons.
Oh please.
Those are watered-down versions.
I’m talking the original ones, where the stepsisters cut off their own toes to try and fit into the glass slipper.
[pensive music playing]
Were you one of those morbid kids?
[chuckling] No.
I just liked how those versions had consequences.
You don’t get “happily ever after” if you’re an asshole.
After my dad died, I combed his place looking for it.
But I guess he didn’t think it was worth keeping.
So that’s what we’re looking for.
I found versions of it, but not that one.
Turns out there was a run, maybe a dozen copies, that the publisher sent to print without proofing.
So they’re full of typos, misprints.
He used to have me point out the mistakes while I read to him.
My father never read to me.
But he did teach me how to read people though.
So you’ve been reading me.
I’ve been trying.
You’re harder than most.
But I’m not ready to give up.
You know, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.
And as you can tell…
I could use your help fitting in here.
It’s not my job to help outsiders fit in.
But if a certain outsider were to properly ask me on a date…
Would you like to?
Yes, I would.
But just let me be very clear.
I’ve worked my ass off to get where I am.
And I got plans for my future.
I’m not going to mess them up because everyone thinks I’m screwing the lawyer.
If we do this, it stays between us.
Does that work for you?
I’m authorized to make that deal.
[both chuckling]
[car horns honking]
[suspenseful music playing]
[Dani] We’ve got a tail.
Would you mind losing him?
My pleasure.
[car horns honking]
[car horns honking]
Son of a bitch!
[unsettling music playing]
[music fades]
[indistinct chatter]
[car horns honking]
Wait here a moment. I’ll be right back.
Given everything going on, isn’t us being out in the open like this a little risky?
We’re about to enter into a very important negotiation.
I wanna do so from a position of strength.
[button clicking]
[elevator chiming]
[suspenseful music playing]
[keys jangling]
[lock clicking]
[door closing]
[keys jangling]
[lock clicking]
[elevator chiming]
[sinister music playing]
[buttons clicking rapidly]
[Father panting]
[elevator chiming]
[keys jangling]
[lock clicking]
[elevator chiming]
[lock clicking]
[gun firing]
[thudding on door]
[thudding on door]
[Father panting]
Dad?
Are you on your way?
[Monroe] Is Peter still with you?
Look, I… I know he helped you and Jay escape last night.
So we can skip the make-believe.
What do you want?
The man who came after you both last night is here for me.
Now, I’ve bought myself some time, but soon he’s going to get into this room, and he’s going to kill me.
I…
I need your help, Peter.
If I was gonna help anybody, it’d be him.
[Monroe] I don’t believe that.
Ever since I met you, you’ve made my life hell.
With everything you’ve done, everything you’ve made me do.
I never made you do anything, Peter.
I always gave you a choice.
[Peter] What about Alice?
What about Catherine? What kind of choice did they have?
The same one Solomon Vega had.
They were all soldiers. Sometimes, there’s casualties.
Yeah? Well, it sounds like you’re the next one.
So good luck.
You’re willing to look Isabel in the eyes and tell her that you won’t save her father?
You of all people?
[Peter] What do you want from me, pity?
I had to walk away from everything that I cared about because of you.
Do you have any idea what that’s like?
[breathing deeply]
[Peter] No, you don’t.
Because everything, everyone, is just a bargaining chip to you.
[Monroe] That’s not true.
You’re a fucking liar.
Look, I’m not stupid enough to come empty-handed.
I’m offering you something.
I’m done making deals with you.
[Monroe] I think you’re gonna wanna hear this one.
My name is now out in the open.
Thanks to you, I imagine.
And those people have every reason
to make sure that I don’t have a chance to talk.
You’re the only person in the government that I can trust to bring me in safely.
I wouldn’t be so sure about that.
There’s a reason I was drawn to you, Peter.
I could always trust you to do what you think is right, what’s moral.
That makes you easy to predict, to manipulate, but it also makes you decent, no matter what you want me to think.
I don’t care what you think.
[Monroe] You get me out of this, and I give you information.
I have access to all the intel you need to take down Zapata, the whole LFS, and to stop their next attack, which is coming soon.
Prove it.
I can only do that in person.
And if you don’t come soon,
I’m not gonna have the chance.
[torch roaring]
[sinister music playing]
Please, Isabel. Please talk to him.
I… I can’t have the last time I saw you be the last time.
He sounds scared.
I’ve never heard him like this before.
Please, Isabel.
Please.
Fine.
But I want everything.
Not just Zapata and the LFS.
I want every dirty spook, agent, and politician that you own.
And once I’ve ripped up your whole operation from the roots, you still go away for life.
Do you understand?
Fine.
That’s bullshit. Why would you agree to something like that?
[Monroe] Because they came after my daughter.
And she’s the only thing I care about anymore.
Where are you?
{\an8} [birds chirping]
[dramatic music playing]
{\an8}[chuckling] What?
I just like the way you do that.
Do what?
Anything.
Stay right here. I have a surprise for you.
It’s your birthday. I’m supposed to get you a gift.
[sighing]
[Monroe] I know.
But it came in last night, and, uh…
I don’t know, the moment just feels… right.
Okay.
Is that the right one?
With all the mistakes?
[Sofia exhaling sharply]
[sighing]
[Sofia sighing]
Hey.
Hey. What?
[sighing] This wasn’t part of the plan.
[sighing] There aren’t supposed to be feelings.
Well, then maybe we should make a new plan.
Don’t do that.
The deal is gonna close soon, and then… Then you have to leave.
And what if you came back with me?
Don’t say that if you don’t really mean it.
[Monroe] Sofia…
I wanna be with you.
[tender music playing]
I love you.
I love you too.
[Sofia breathing deeply]
[Monroe] Every meeting Zapata’s had in the last month.
[indistinct chatter]
[Costa] This is a good start.
Start?
[music fades]
What have I been doing for the past eight months?
Providing us with a solid foundation.
Now the real work begins.
That’s gotta be a joke.
Don’t get snippy.
Remember, you got yourself into this situation.
Why are you getting antsy now?
I just wanna be done. I… I wanna have my life again.
Look, I get it.
You’re not here by choice. I’m not your favorite person.
But you need to understand.
The work you are doing is important for your country.
You’re doing good.
And you can keep doing good.
Can you at least tell me what I’m actually doing and… and why?
So last year, a new player in the arms market shows up on the Agency’s radar.
Someone who can move a lot of firepower very quickly across the borders and didn’t mind doing business with guys nobody else would touch.
We’re talking… terrorist groups, like serious… shit.
You think Zapata’s a terrorist?
Well… [sighing]
That’s a big word.
But we do think that when he took over the business from his old man, he started using his company to move heavy stuff.
Assault weapons, anti-aircraft, you name it.
Okay, hold on, maybe he’s cut a few corners, but–
So you think that they would send me for a guy who is just cutting corners?
I’m not a meter maid.
Okay, but Raúl is not a warlord.
Why? ‘Cause he’s funny and likes to golf?
For every ten dipshits with a manifesto, there is a guy like Zapata who goes to country clubs, who gives to charities, and makes it so these fuckers have what they need to get on the news.
That’s who Zapata is.
Which is why I cannot let you walk away.
Not anytime soon.
Please, I… I don’t wanna do this anymore.
Jacob, it would have taken us years to maybe get one of our guys as close to Zapata as you are to him right now.
And if we play this right, a lot of innocent people don’t die at the hands of some fanatic with a Che Guevara poster on his wall.
Isn’t that worth something to you?
It’s not worth my life, my future.
Right. Of course.
With your new girlfriend, right?
Sofia?
How… how did–
Who do you think you’re dealing with?
[ominous music playing]
Happy birthday, by the way.
I didn’t get you anything.
[Monroe] Wait!
I can get proof.
Is that so?
Yeah.
I mean, enough to take down his organization for good.
But if I do this, I get to walk away.
Forever. Clean slate.
Okay.
But if we move on this, it’s gotta be airtight.
A guarantee that if we read in the federales and they seize a Zapata container, there will be weapons in it.
Anything else, no deal.
[Monroe] I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you earlier.
But I just thought you’d be safer not knowing.
When did she approach you?
I don’t know the exact date.
Was it before us?
Yeah.
So… every minute we’ve been together has been a lie.
I have never actually known the real you.
No, Sofia.
[Sofia] All that talk about our future, was any of that real?
[somber music playing]
[Monroe] I’m sorry. I didn’t have a choice.
But this is real.
I love you, and you are my future.
[Sofia sighing]
[Monroe] There’s a way for us to get out of this, to start our lives.
But I can’t do it without your help.
Are you seriously asking me what I think you’re asking me?
It’s not fair. Just hear me.
You need to leave.
Wait.
[Sofia sighing]
[dramatic music playing]
[Monroe breathing heavily]
Thank you again for doing this.
[music fades]
After my dad died, I was on my own, and that was hard.
But I took comfort in the fact that I didn’t have anything else to lose.
Now I’m scared.
Sofia, I’m sorry that I–
No, I don’t need you to tell me you’re sorry.
I need you to tell me that we’re gonna be okay and that it’s all gonna be worth it.
We are. It will.
I can’t lose us, Jacob.
I can’t.
I know.
And soon we’re gonna be on the other side of this.
And then I’m gonna make it all up to you.
I hope you were serious about going back to the States, because once they move on Raúl, we need to get the hell out of Mexico City.
Who knows how many people in the government will–
This isn’t enough.
What?
No, I… I know every customer we service.
Those containers don’t match any of them.
They must be his secret shipments.
I know, but it’s gotta be 100% concrete for them to move.
It’s the only way we get out of this for good.
Do you know where he keeps the keys?
[suspenseful music playing]
[Zapata in Spanish] Who’s there?
I know someone’s there! Come out now!
What the fuck are you doing, Jacob?
I was looking for you!
There was a new contract, and–
Motherfucker!
[in English] On your knees!
Go over there and get on your knees!
Raúl!
[in Spanish] Please! You don’t want to do this.
Of course I don’t want to do this. Especially here.
Hold on!
The truth is…
I’ve suspected something like this for a while.
And I came here tonight to confirm it.
And what did you learn, blondie?
That you’ve been sloppy.
I figured it out, and I’m just a civilian who followed the money.
It’s only a matter of time before someone else does too.
But if you had the right partner…
Some balls!
How are you going to help me?
I’m a corporate lawyer.
Obfuscation is my job.
I can hide this in a structure of fronts.
It would take a forensic accountant ten years to trace it back to you.
I like you, Jacob.
But you’re a fucking outsider.
You’re right.
I don’t know this place, this trade.
But I do know that you’re going to get caught, and worse, you’re leaving money on the table.
I’m all ears.
From what I’ve been able to gather, you’re only selling to people on one side.
I don’t need to be an arms dealer to know that’s bad business.
Don’t you think my customers might be upset when they find out I was playing both sides?
[Monroe] If they knew.
I can make sure they don’t.
And what do you get?
[Monroe chuckling]
I figure we start the negotiation at 10% of net profits, and 5% stake in the company, and go from there.
Fucking gringo.
[gun cocking]
[chuckling]
[sighing]
[indistinct chatter]
[Costa in English] How do you know this?
Because I opened it up and I saw a missile.
[music fades]
Good work.
So, what happens now?
Pass it up the chain.
They have the federales intercept, and if it’s right…
It is.
Then you’re a free man, Jacob Monroe.
Page me when it’s done.
[pensive music playing]
You have a real talent for this, you know?
Most people don’t.
If you ever wanted to entertain a career change, the Agency could really use a guy like you.
You think I’d wanna work for you?
I’m not so bad once you get to know me.
It’s an exciting life.
I don’t want exciting.
I wanna never talk to you again.
It’s not complicated. Just don’t go meet with him.
And what would I tell Raúl?
I don’t care.
In three days we’ll be out of his reach. We’re so close.
Which is why I can’t raise any alarms right now.
Raúl just wants to hear himself talk.
Jacob…
I’ve got a new plan.
And it involves a backyard, telling stories to our kids at bedtime, and a man that I love so much it hurts.
Promise me I’m not gonna lose that.
You’re not.
I promise.
I’ll be back before you finish the kitchen.
[tape tearing]
[crickets chirping]
[music fades]
Jacob.
[in Spanish] Sorry to bother you this late, but we need to talk.
Is everything all right?
No, but it will be soon. Come.
I’m getting out of the deal with you and the gringos.
I need you to tell your bosses.
[inhaling] And our deal too.
Bye.
Raúl.
I’m sure whatever’s happened, we can fix it.
There’s nothing we can do to fix it. I screwed up.
Uh…
I found out there is an informant in my company that is trying to destroy me.
Who?
Sofia.
[ominous music playing]
From Operations.
No. That can’t be right.
I’m telling you it is.
[Monroe] And I’m telling you, I’ve worked closely with her this whole time, and I’ve never seen any indication that she’s anything other than a good worker and loyal to you.
[Zapata] I can prove it.
Unless you know something I don’t, I’m going to ask that you shut up.
And don’t talk to me that way.
Understood?
I’m sorry.
So… do you know something I don’t?
I’m sorry for lashing out.
I’m just shocked.
I thought I knew her.
Me too.
You never really know someone, my friend.
But don’t worry.
We’re taking care of it.
[sinister music playing]
[footsteps rapidly approaching]
[Monroe panting] Sofia!
Sofia.
[phone beeping]
[Monroe in English] Come on. Come on.
[line ringing]
[Costa] Hello?
Costa!
[Costa] Jacob, I told you this line was for emergencies only.
Zapata, he took Sofia. She’s gone.
Costa!
[Costa] I don’t know what you want me to do.
Help her, please! You’re the one who brought her into this! Please!
[Costa] No, you did.
Consider yourself lucky.
It could’ve been you in an unmarked grave.
Now stick to your word and never talk to me again.
Come on. No, you can’t!
[line clicking]
You can’t! [crying]
[dial tone droning]
[phone beeping]
[Monroe breathing heavily]
[somber music playing]
[suspenseful music playing]
[music fades]
[Father panting]
[torch clicking]
[tense music playing]
[suspenseful music playing]
[Father panting, seething]
How do I know you’re not gonna screw me over when I get you out of this?
[Monroe] There’s a secure online database where the intelligence we need and a hell of a lot more is stored.
It’s encrypted to the point where I can’t even access it unless I have this book.
I’ll let you hold it, as a show of good faith.
So it’s a cipher.
Yeah.
How’s it work?
Well, if I told you that, you wouldn’t be very motivated to protect me, would you?
[Adam] Yeah.
[Peter] Hey, what’s your ETA?
East exit in 30 seconds.
[Peter] Okay, switch to comms.
Copy.
[suspenseful music continues]
[door closing]
[door opening]
[gun firing]
[intense music playing]
[gun firing]
[gun firing]
[breathing heavily]
Hey, you got him?
Got him.
[object clattering]
[high-pitched whirring]
[sounds distorting]
[Peter panting]
[gun firing]
[Peter grunting]
[car alarms blaring]
Peter? You coming?
Shit.
You stay here.
[car engine revving]
[car alarms blaring]
[suspenseful music playing]
{\an8}[girls giggling]
{\an8} [music fades]
[birds chirping]
{\an8}Grandma, can we have money for ice cream?
{\an8}Fine.
{\an8}But… it’ll cost you.
Okay, fine, fine. You’re all settled up.
Cute kids.
Yours?
[Costa chuckling]
God, no.
My daughter’s.
But I take ’em every chance I can get.
That must be nice.
What do they call you?
[sighing]
“Granny”?
“Margaret”?
“Agent Miller”?
Maybe “Costa”?
How’d I find you?
Slowly… and at great expense.
You seem different.
Well, I gave up drinking and got serious about a new career.
Havana, 1998.
I’ve seen some things since the last time we spoke, but this…
Oh, this is some nasty work.
Bravo.
I was acting on orders from the Agency.
Maybe.
But if this gets out, do you really see the Agency taking the blame?
Because I see them hanging you out to dry.
What could you possibly want from me after 15 years?
[scoffing] An explanation?
No, I know what happened.
You used the intel I gathered as leverage to broker the deal with Zapata.
The U.S. and its allies leave him alone, and the Agency gets weapons for its… extracurricular activities.
The Cold War was over.
Budgets shrank.
Oversight got tight.
We had to turn to new partners.
Like an arms dealer.
Well, once they come to the table, they’re more like freedom fighters.
Until the alliance becomes inconvenient.
And once it did, you’re more than happy to double-cross them.
Every time the administration changes, the priorities change with it.
The president wanted to cut him loose?
He wanted to bury him, actually.
Green-lit a covert op to take him out.
But the intel was bad. He wasn’t there.
[ominous music playing]
{\an8}His sister and her kids were.
After that, he went deep underground, ratcheted up the violence, but we rarely heard a peep from him.
Oh, you will… eventually.
Well, as much as I love catching up, I have better things to do than reminisce.
Kendall Country Day School.
{\an8}Do not test my resolve.
What then?
An apology?
Sofia, what happened to her?
One of the terms of the deal was that we give him our mole inside of his operation.
It was her or you.
You were an asset. She was just… collateral.
No.
She was my one chance at a family. You should have chosen me.
Well, there was nothing stopping you from outing yourself, taking her place.
You could’ve marched into Zapata’s office and told him everything.
Nothing I said would’ve saved her.
I’m sure that helps… believing that.
I loved Sofia more than anything.
No.
I think the proof suggests that you loved yourself just a tiny bit more.
Wait. Wait, wait, wait.
Wait.
He didn’t kill her.
Sofia was more useful to him as a scapegoat than she was dead.
He used his connections in the Mexican government to have her go down under a different name for some of his crimes.
She’s alive?
She died in prison two years ago.
But a few months into her sentence, she had a child.
A girl.
I can help you find her.
[dramatic music playing]
You’ll be hearing from me.
When it rings, you answer.
Isabel.
{\an8}[dramatic music continues]
{\an8}[in Spanish] What are you doing here?
Isabel.
I told my aunt to send you away three hours ago.
I have nowhere better… to be.
[Isabel in English] Don’t patronize me.
My English is a lot better than your Spanish.
[music fades]
I’m a bit rusty.
Your mother used to make fun of my Spanish.
I don’t know what she told you about me.
She said you weren’t worth knowing.
I’d like to try to change that if I can.
Now, this was hers.
We thought we might read it to you one day.
You know, our, uh, first date was at, uh, a bookstore.
Ofelia.
Your mother–
I don’t read fairy tales. I’m not a child.
I know.
Your teachers tell me you’re outperforming students two to three years ahead of you.
And every chance they set a new benchmark, you blow right past it.
It’s impressive, to say the least.
Listen, there’s an international school in the city.
It has an advanced program that feeds in the best universities in the world.
I have friends there.
People owe me favors. You could start on Monday.
We can’t even keep the lights on. And we’re three months behind on rent.
How are we supposed to afford that?
It’s already been taken care of.
And as for rent, the apartment is now owned by a trust in your name.
So if you wanna upgrade, we can set you up with something nicer, and you can rent this one out.
[Isabel sighing]
Go away.
Isabel, just–
Just leave.
[melancholy music playing]
[Monroe sighing]
Um, if you ever wanna talk about your future…
If you’re ever just, um, curious…
[door opening]
[door closing]
Where’s Peter?
[suspenseful music swelling]
[music fades]
[ending theme music playing]
[music fades]
