[voiceover] Nowadays, the US government can listen to anything you say. They know where you are, they know who you're talking to, and trust me, they know who you're fucking. You turn on a cell phone or a computer, and you're doomed. But in Colombia in 1989, it wasn't that easy. First off, there was no Internet. No cells. The best they had were satellite phones, and in order to capture a satellite phone, you had to fly directly over it. On top of that, the only people who had sat phones were the filthy rich, the landowners, the politicians. And lucky for us, the narcos were richer than them all.
All S1
S1 E15Unfinished Business
[as narrator] Take Richard Nixon, for instance. People forget, but 47 million Americans voted for Nixon. We thought he was one of the good guys. And Nixon thought Chilean General Pinochet was a good guy because he hated the commies. So we helped Pinochet seize power. The Pinochet turned around and killed thousands of people. Maybe not such a good guy after all.
[voiceover] Back then, we were just finding out about the effects of cocaine - on the human brain. We didn't know much, but we knew it was some pretty powerful shit. Cocaine hijacks the pleasure centers in the brain. A rat will choose cocaine over food and water. It would choose cocaine over sleep, over sex over life itself. The human brain isn't quite the same as a rodent's unless we're talking about cocaine.
[At a bridge checkpoint]
Gentlemen, I'm going to tell you who I am. I am Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria. My eyes are everywhere. That means you guys can't move a finger in all of Antioquia without me knowing about it. Do you understand? Not a finger. One day, I'm going to be President of the Republic of Colombia. So look, I make deals for a living. Now, you can stay calm and accept my deal or accept the consequences. Silver or lead. You decide.
[voiceover] If there's one thing I've learned in the narco world, it's that life is more complicated than you think. Good and bad they're relative concepts. In the world of drug dealers, you do what you think is right - and hope for the best.
[voiceover] By the time I left Miami, Americans were doing a couple hundred tons of cocaine every year. To satisfy American noses, the narcos ramped up their operations...They were flying so many planes, they needed a refueling stop between Colombia and Miami. So Carlos Lehder bought an island in the Bahamas as a transshipment point for the drugs and money. Turns out it was a damn good place to party. It was modern day Sodom and Gomorrah, with the three things Carlos liked most: - sex, drugs, and Nazi sympathizers.
This is the problem?
People are watching us, Pablo. They're asking themselves how two small businessmen - suddenly came up with so much cash.
Gustavo, brother just launder the money. Make it look legitimate that's all. Isn't that what Al Capone did?
GGaviria
Al Capone?
Al Capone.
GGaviria
You're a dumbass, Pablo. Al Capone is a terrible example.
Why?
GGaviria
Because Al Capone never had this much cash. This is too much to launder.
Well, then let's buy a bigger washing machine.
[voiceover] We knew the meeting was over when the hookers came to play.
Those shitty oligarchs. Those people, all of their lives don't know what it's like to wonder where their next meal is coming from. I come from nothing, Valeria and I have more money than any of those sons of bitches.
VVValeria Vélez
If you run for Congress, you put yourself in the public eye, you become a target. "I made my money from taxis" isn't going to work when you face the press. Pablo, you need a party that supports you. You need a proper political campaign.
I buy the press, my love. And as far as a political party, I am quite sure that I can buy one of those as well. I don't want to be good. I am going to be great. A PAISA ROBIN HOOD.
[voiceover] A drug dealer running for president. It was crazy, right? Well, not in Colombia. Not in the mid-'80s. As far as Colombians go, Pablo wasn't a drug dealer at all. He was a fucking winner. The living embodiment of the Colombian dream. The guy who'd buy houses for the poor in exchange for nothing. As far as Pablo could tell, the doors to political success were there and all he had to do was to get to them.
Look, I am not a rich person. I am a poor person with money. And for that reason, I think that...Well, I think that I understand the people to whom the New Liberalism wants to give a voice.
FDFernando Duque
The party clearly needs to hear what you have to say, Mr. Escobar. There is a great deal of talk about how you have made your money. I need guarantees concerning the origins of your fortune.
And Valeria told you how much I am going to donate?
DDuque
No, no-
Look, I am not a politician. I am not a successful lawyer like you. I come from the street, brother. I want to reassure you that you will receive your piece.
DDuque
It's not about that-
Assuming your piece is ten percent, your piece would be what? $300,000 just for you. Does that seem like a sufficient guarantee for the Justice Minister or what?
DDuque
Most definitely.
You know what, Pablo? To me, it looks like you are handling things very badly. You need to start thinking more about your family and about business. Thing is, you can't be a politician.
Says who?
GGaviria
[sighs] You can't go strutting around giving things to people simply so they will love you. We are bandits.
[voiceover] Rodrigo Lara became the most important political figure in Colombia with his stand against the narcos. He just wouldn't stop going after them. His bravery in the face of danger made him the most wanted man in the country. For his own safety, he was appointed Colombian ambassador to Czechoslovakia. He was slated to leave in two weeks, but a lot could happen in two weeks. [to Rodrigo Lara] I think it might be a good idea for you to wear this [refers to flak vest] until you leave.
RLRodrigo Lara
You feel responsible, is that it?
Somewhat, yes, sir.
LLara
Are you so arrogant to think you had any influence over my actions? That I put my life and the life of my family at risk for American policy objectives? Let me assure you, Agent Murphy, outside of providing me with the picture, you did nothing. The decision to speak out was solely mine.
And I highly advise you to wear this vest, sir.
LLara
I will accept this vest out of respect for your concern with my well-being. But I would advise you one thing while you remain in Colombia.
And what is that?
LLara
We accept your help, but never your condescension. When all this is over, Colombians will be the heroes, and the victims. John Wayne only exists in Hollywood.
Just wear the vest.
[Pablo Escobar address supporters in the wake of Justice Minister Rodrigo Lara's attacks on him]
Due to the vicious lies and slander cast my way by Minister Lara and his cronies, I've decided to announce my resignation from Congress of the Republic. I ran as a representative for the common man, a voice for those who had no voice, but that has happened through much of our history. The powerful have conspired to silence me. I dreamt of doing good. Those dreams are over. But make no mistake I will not go quietly. I will fight. "The Men of Always" are mistaken if they think they can defeat Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria!
[voiceover] One of the sicarios caught after Lara Bonilla's assassination confessed that Pablo had put out the hit. An important politician had been murdered and everyone knew who did it. Finally, the Colombian government had to react. Pablo Escobar was indicted for the murder of Rodrigo Lara Bonilla. Colombia agreed to the one thing narcos feared most: extradition. Now any Colombian who smuggled drugs to America could be prosecuted and jailed in the US, even if they never stepped foot on our soil. This made all the difference in the world. If you were a narco in Colombia, jail time meant banging girls, watching movies, hanging with the fellas. Grease the right hands and you'd get a reduced sentence for good behavior. It was a fucking joke. Back home, it was a whole different deal. The seventh richest man in the world? No one gives a shit. You still get a 6x8 cell 23 hours a day, just like every other loser, a fucking nightmare. Now Pablo had someone to fear: us.
Extradition doesn't mean anything unless you can catch him.
With our help, you will.
Oh, that's right. Gringos to the rescue.
It's one fucking man against the United States of America.
One man with helicopters, airplanes, vehicles, planned escape routes - and a network of informants.
Our government will provide money, men, weapons.
You make it sound so easy. But Escobar has always managed to stay one step ahead of us.
Help us catch him.
I'll never be assigned to this. Jaramillo hates my guts.
Let me take care of that.
You think extradition's a victory.
It is.
Escobar will not go lightly. He will make Colombia bleed.
These quotes come from Wikiquote's Narcos pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.