8x01: Kiss The Girl
Recap by Misty Flores
Previously on LHDP: While Pepa got closer to winning back Silvia, Curtis' bid to impress her with a staged stake-out ended in tragedy when their missions collided with a prostitution ring and their stake out car began to get fired upon. Curtis, believing this was still a set up, exited the car to be like 'Bruce Willis' and impress Pepa, but ended up getting shot four times instead.
In the ambulance, Pepa asked him why he did it, and he confessed to falling in love with her after she kissed him. Pepa, overwhelmed with guilt, saw him close to death and when he told her he loved her, she lied and said she loved him too.
Then he flatlined.
EPISODE 8x01: Kiss The Girl
THE BRIEFING ROOM
Paco, Rita, Silvia, Pepa and the rest of the Hombres stand around worriedly as we flash back to Curtis flatlining.
Silvia gives Pepa look of concern. Don Lorenzo walks in with Kike.
DL: Good morning.
Again a flashback, as the paramedics try to use the defribbillator to revive Curtis.
The group stands around fitfully as DL greets Silvia. Everyone is thinking about Curtis.
DL: Sit down. As you know, Agent Curtis Naranjo was shot four times. A few moments ago I spoke with the Chief Doctor of the Intensive Care unit at the hospital. Naranjo's state is … grave.
FLASHBACK: The paramedics try one more time to revive Curtis. It works. Pepa and Kike sob in relief.
DL: Miraculously, the bullets did not touch one single critical organ.
Pepa kisses Curtis on the head gratefully.
DL: For the moment, he's out of danger.
Silvia stares at Pepa as she sighs in relief, who smiles at Kike as the room breaks into applause. Rita raises her hand.
RITA: Don Lorenzo.
DL: Yes, Rita?
RITA: Can we go visit him now?
Silvia watches Pepa's intent attention on the answer.
DL: … well… it's a little soon. He's in an induced coma.
Pepa glances back at Kike and raises her hand.
PEPA: Is there anything more, Don Lorenzo, that we don't know?
DL: No, no, we just have to wait and see, okay?
Silvia nods and stares worriedly at Pepa. Pepa frowns, unconvinced.
LATER, AFTER THE CREDITS
Don Lorenzo is getting on with the meeting.
DL: Well, gentlemen, now that you're informed, we're waiting for the arrival of-
The door opens, and in walks a man in a suit who does not wait to interrupt in the worst Spanish accent ever.
THOMASON: Commissioner Castro? I'm Thomason , General Thomason, second in command of security of the United States, the United States of America.
[note to the general – don't be an ass. It makes the American's look bad] He turns to the Hombres.
THOMASON: As of now, we will be taking over the case of the presumed attack against the G8. You will collaborate with us-
DL: Pardon-Pardon me. We are delighted Mr. Thomason to have you here with us here at the Precinct. But allow me to say one thing. We will not collaborate with anyone. In any case it is you who will collaborate with us. This is our case, our jurisdiction and our territory. Okay?
The Hombres look on proudly.
DL: Paco. [Paco jumps to attention] Please explain for us the lines of investigation.
PACO: As you wish, Commissioner. Men, we have two lines of investigation. One… that goes one way. And the other… that goes the other way.
Everyone blinks
PACO: Agent Carrasco, do you have anything to add?
AITOR: Yes. Farriki, the man who attempted to kill Sara and I is still in the hospital. We are attempting to investigate him and the only thing we've found are some phone calls made, seven total, to a pilates gym for pregnant woman. For what we know, he's single and has no children.
PACO: Well, I think the best thing to do is set up an infiltration. Agent Carrasco and Agent Miranda, you will pass as an expecting couple at the gym. Okay? Don Lorenzo?
DL: … Okay. Well, gentlemen. As you were. Back to work.
The group gets up and files out. Pepa doesn't notice as Silvia tries to get to her, and walks right by her, out the door.
DL: Mr. Thomason, if it's okay with you, we'll have a tour, I'll show you the facility and my agents will update your men. Sound good?
He nods. DL hangs back to order Paco and Mariano.
DL: Guys, do not let them step all over you. If they want to order people around then tell them to go to West Point.
THE LOCKER ROOM
Sara and Aitor dress for their operation (Note to Aitor: GET A NEW FUCKING SHIRT) as Silvia walks in.
SILVIA: I was looking for you. You'll need this for the gym infiltration.
She holds up a bag.
SARA: Rings?
AITOR: Rings for what, Silvia?
SILVIA: For realism, you have to pretend you're married, no? And married people always wear rings.
Nelson happily plays with the rings.
NELSON: Yup, the married people always wear rings. Carrasco, do you take Sara Miranda as your lawfully wedded-
This is a very sore spot for Aitor. He shoves Nelson away.
AITOR: Nelson, Nelson don't fuck with me, okay man? Give me the rings, come on.
SILVIA: Okay, well the gym specializes in pilates for pregnant women. So we'll say Sara is 14 to 15 weeks, that's why she's not showing yet. BUT they might ask you for this.
She pulls out a sonogram picture.
SILVIA: Look! It's a sonogram of your baby.
Sara is delighted.
SILVIA: A twelve week old baby.
SARA: What's this?
SILVIA: Look, this is his little feet-
SARA: Aw how cute!
Nelson smacks Aitor happily. Aitor is not amused.
SILVIA: And this black spot is the head.
SARA: Aw, how cute!
NELSON: The hair is black! Man you work quick! You've only just gotten married!
AITOR: Nelson!
Aitor jerks away.
AITOR: Don't fuck with me.
He walks out of the locker room and slams the door. Silvia and Sara look at Nelson, mystified.
THE BULLPEN
Pepa and Kike pow-wow about Curtis.
PEPA: How could that occur to you? What the hell were you thinking?
KIKE: He… wanted to win you. And I… I've never seen Curtis as happy as when you gave him that kiss.
Pepa smiles sadly, touched.
KIKE: Curtis' cerebrum went more than 8 minutes without oxygen. The doctors can't guarantee that if he wakes up –
He catches himself. Pepa struggles.
KIKE: WHEN he wakes up, he'll be back to normal. He could have irreparable brain damage.
This quietly devastates Pepa. She tries to keep it together as her eyes water, sucking in her breath and exhaling it, before pushing off the desk.
PEPA: Come on.
Silvia notices Pepa's obvious agitation and distress, and watches her in concern.
She kisses Kike on the temple and leads him to where Povedilla, Nelson and Rita are waiting in front of a blackboard.
Pepa tries to psyche herself up for her job, clapping her hands to get the Hombres' attention.
PEPA: Okay guys – Pove, gimme.
She takes the blackboard marker from Povedilla.
PEPA: We don't yet know the route of the caravan. It'll become official about two hours before. We also don't know which diplomat we're going to be escorting.
RITA: It makes me really excited, you know? To be escorting one of the most important men on the planet!
Pepa smiles as the other officers grin excitedly.
PEPA: Okay, Kike and I will be in charge of the front of the car. And flanking the rear will be Rita and Povedilla.
Povedilla smiles at Rita. Pepa scribbles their name on the markered image of the car on the blackboard.
PEPA: Nelson.
NELSON: Yes!
PEPA: You're the alternate.
NELSON: No way! No way! Why do I have to be the alternate? Sure, I'm the black guy – I can only sit around eating bananas, but when it comes to being an escort forget about it!
We see a flash of Nelson escorting the car.
Pepa rolls with it.
PEPA: Fine. There's no problem. You'll go to the rear with Povedilla. Kike and I will stay up front-
RITA: And me?
PEPA: Rita, it's your turn.
RITA: Well no. I don't agree.
Pepa sighs, not in the mood.
RITA: Why the hell do they have us serving? If not to be bodyguards? Two men, two woman that's only fair.
PEPA: Fine. It's fair. Two men, two woman. You'll come with me in the front.
RITA: Okay.
PEPA: Okay?
RITA: Yes.
Pepa erases and scribbles again.
PEPA: That's me… In the back, Nelson and Povedilla. Are we all agreed?
Kike isn't.
KIKE: And the gay guy? Let's stick him in the dark room, no? So he won't bother anyone.
Pepa is not up to a Three Stooges Episode. She's starting to get frustrated. Silvia looks up, hearing as Pepa's voice gets louder.
PEPA: Fine. Then you'll go with Nelson on the rear flank. Mm? We've got one on the left, one on the right. Rita? In front with me – Povedilla, it's you.
POVEDILLA: Oh sure. Sure. Perfect.
Pepa begins to cap her pen.
POVEDILLA: Sure, because the right hand of the law doesn't protect the rights of the white male heterosexuals, of course it's me!
Pepa is seriously close to losing it and kicking all of their asses. She sucks in an angry breath.
POVEDILLA: And you even put me first because I was –
Pepa whirls, furious.
PEPA: OKAY ENOUGH.
Povedilla shuts up. Silvia looks up, watching the scene.
PEPA: I don't have time to waste on these stupidities. One of you has to be the alternate. So you figure it out.
She hands Povedilla the pen.
PEPA: Come together, discuss it and come to a decision and when you have it, come and tell me.
Silvia is now seriously concerned, as Pepa is now close to tears.
PEPA: I'm going to the hospital.
She stalks off. Silvia watches her go, really worried.
CURTIS' HOSPITAL ROOM
Pepa quietly walks into Curtis' hospital room, bracing herself.
Finally she turns and stares at Curtis. She begins to remember moments, clues to Curtis' true feelings, things she overlooked or chose to never see.
PEPA FLASHBACK [vo]: hold the handle with a firm grip. And point to the center...
Pepa walks up to Curtis, tears in her eyes as she remembers the halfhazard way she kissed him.
PEPA FLASHBACK [vo]: It was an impulse! I'm sorry! I just felt like a kiss! But – thank you, Curtis!
Pepa quietly takes in Curtis in his coma.
CURTIS FLASHBACK [vo]: You're good. You're good! But not just at shooting – at kissing.
Pepa remembers walking down the stairs at the station, and seeing not but processing Curtis' look of smitten love.
She quietly grabs the chart as she flashes on Curtis running out of the car.
PEPA [VO]: There are four gunshot wounds: on the right upper arm, the left thigh, and the left shoulder where the bullet entered and left the body. And the left clavicle that is the only wound where the bullet did not exit, requiring reconstructive surgery. He has been stabilized and been connected to an oxygen tank. We are awaiting neurogical test results to be delivered in the next few hours. There could be irreversible brain damage due to oxygen deprivation.
Pepa begins to cry as she takes that in, overwhelmed with guilt and trauma as she puts the chart back.
She stares at her buddy and reaches for his hand.
PEPA: I'm sorry.
CURTIS' HOSPITAL ROOM
A tear trickles down Pepa's numb face as she slumps in a chair, watching Curtis.
Behind her, the door snicks open.
It's Silvia, who tentatively steps inside, assessing the situation. She silently, carefully closes the door.
The sound alerts Pepa, who glances back. She processes Silvia, who stares back uncertainly.
Pepa has no energy for anything but acknowledgement, before she turns back to Curtis.
Silvia, aware of how bad Pepa feels, walks quietly to the other side of the room, and begins to remove her jacket, preparing to stay.
CURTIS' HOSPITAL ROOM
Pepa doesn't take her eyes off of Curtis.
PEPA: Do you know what happens to the cerebrum when it doesn't receive oxygen?
Silvia, who has settled on the ledge next to the window, keeps quiet.
PEPA: Cerebral Hypoxia. The brain closes itself off like a submarine. It cuts itself in compartments.
The tears begin to glisten in her eyes, and she finally looks at Silvia fearfully.
PEPA: If Curtis' brain cuts itself off-
SILVIA: That's not going to happen.
Pepa stares at her, lost.
SILVIA: in a few days he's going to get up, he's going to ask for his leather jacket, his rock cds, and his dog and all that will be left is some scars.
She stares at Pepa kindly.
SILVIA: I promise you.
Pepa smiles gratefully, but is unable to stop staring at Curtis.
PEPA: I fucked up. I fucked up again, Silvia.
Silvia listens as Pepa finally sits up, opening up to her ex-lover.
PEPA: I gave him a kiss without thinking anything of it. But it was important to him. And do you know why? Because I'm light years behind Curtis in his capacity to love. Do you know what he did for me?
Silvia nods quietly.
PEPA: Curtis tried to become Bruce Willis for me.
SILVIA: Is that why he went out of the car running into the hail of gunfire like a chicken with his head cut off?
Pepa grins at that assessment.
PEPA: The poor guy thought they were bullets made of salt.
SILVIA: Yeah, honey but… I don't know. Okay, the first shot in the shoulder from a .38 caliber… maybe you don't notice-
She starts laughing.
SILVIA: But the second and the third? And the fourth?
Pepa starts smiling, unable to help herself.
SILVIA: You must have had him numb with love! You anesthetized him, Pepa!
Pepa starts laughing, unable to help herself.
PEPA: Silvia, please.
SILVIA: Napalm! Cross-fire and napalm, "PEPA!"
She crosses her eyes. Pepa can't help but laugh.
PEPA: Silvia, have a little respect, he's right in front of us.
SILVIA: Do you know what I'd like to hear if I were in a coma? Your laugh, Pepa.
Pepa's smile is beautiful and open, and she's touched and moved by Silvia's declaration. As they lock glances, Silvia realizes she may have said too much, but she can't take them back. Pepa's smile is grateful and sweet as she glances at Curtis, and then at Silvia.
Silvia sits back, shy but not looking away, happy to have made her laugh. Pepa glances down bashfully.
CURTIS' HOSPITAL ROOM
Silvia opens the door, juggling a bottle of water and a plate.
SILVIA: Pepa, I-
She stops short when she realizes Pepa has fallen asleep in her chair, half covered in a blanket. Quietly, Silvia closes the door and quietly puts down the plate of food and water, careful not to make any noise.
After a quick glance at Curtis, Silvia makes her way to Pepa and carefully pulls up the hospital issue blanket to Pepa's shoulders.
She steps back, but finds herself unable to pull away, kneels down to stare at sleeping Pepa. Tentatively, almost despite herself, Silvia carefully smoothes a tendril away from Pepa's sleeping face.
Once she starts, Silvia can't stop. She smooths her knuckles down Pepa's cheek, finally allowing herself in Pepa's vulnerable unknowing state, to give into her desire to be near Pepa.
Overtaken, she smiles lovingly and whisper-soft, she brings her hand back and uses the other to trace Pepa's fingers, curling her fingers around hers.
The growing boldness has a price: Pepa's eyes flicker open to sleepily take in Silvia's adoring face, her hand gripped in hers.
Ever so subtly, Pepa smiles.
Silvia blinks, jarred, and snatches her hand back, unsure what to do now that she's been caught red-handed (literally).
She jolts up and skitters toward the food. Pepa, awake and still smiling, sits up and pulls the blanket off of her. Silvia fumbles with the food.
SILVIA: I brought you something to eat. You've spent all day here…
But the last thing Pepa is thinking about is food.
Emboldened by Silvia's actions, she moves toward Silvia as Silvia continues to set up the place setting.
NOTE: notice the direct symmetry and reversal from the bathroom-kiss-scene. They've come full-circle.
The second Silvia feels Pepa behind her, she freezes, eyes fluttering closed in haunting awareness as Pepa tangles her fingers delicately in Silvia's curls, hands sweeping over her shoulders.
Chest heaving, Silvia's smile is resigned.
She turns in Pepa's arms as Pepa's hand cups her cheek. They stare at each other.
And we have the return of the unspoken conversations, as they silently regard each other.
Silvia's battle is brief and a lost cause. Staring into Pepa's eyes, she knows it's useless to deny herself, and her eyes blink once, signaling her defeat.
Pepa's lips quirk, smile deepening as Silvia makes a deliberate step forward, eyes on Pepa's lips, granting her permission.
Pepa's kiss is delicate and soft, and after a beat, Silvia kisses back, just as reverently.
Pepa pulls back, eying her.
Silvia waits only a moment before burying herself into Pepa's arms. They both sigh in relief, reveling the feeling of having their arms around each other once more.
They hold the moment, clutching to each other, breathing each other in.
CURTIS: [OS] Pepa.
The croaked voice of Curtis calling for Pepa jerks them back to reality. They stare at each other in surprise, and then immediately move to Curtis' side.
Pepa takes his hand.
PEPA: Curtis. Curtis.
Curtis' eyes flutter open.
CURTIS: Pepa.
She smiles in relief.
PEPA: Hello.
She smiles gratefully at Silvia, and tenderly pets the scruff of Curtis' head.
PEPA: You're okay.
IN OTHER STORYLINES…
THE BODYGUARDS
Taking Pepa's order to figure out who needs to be the alternate to heart, Rita, Nelson, Povedilla and Nelson develop a series of contests. The first one includes running alongside a car for five miles in black shoes. Things of course go wonky for Povedilla, who is distracted by Rita and her awesome cleavage and first falls down a hill, and then crashes the car when he is fixated on her bouncing boobs.
Later, they decide this isn't enough and decide to shoot each other with vests, because it's important for escorts to take a bullet for their assignment. They do so just as DL comes in with the General. DL takes one look and ushers out the General.
Pepa calls Kike as Povedilla once again drools over Rita, and informs them that they have an assigned route, but she will no longer be joining them, so they ALL get to be escorts! They cheer each other and are greeted with applause as they head out to do their duty.
THE SNITCH
Mariano and Paco find themselves frozen out of the CIA's investigation, and things go from bad to worse when they find Paco's office has been bugged. They return the favor by delivering the CIA a bugged ham, and as they are listening in (with Povedilla's help), Dl walks in with the General. DL ushers out the General and comes back to find out what the heck is going on. When Paco and Mariano explain what is happening, DL takes action and tells Paco to get a warrant. The three of them head to a safer, bug-free place of operations: the Cachi's kitchen, where they get to work trying to put together the information for the Summit.
THE FAKE BABY
Aitor and Sara go undercover at the pilates gym, but Aitor is too busy angsting over this make believe scenario to be much use in the cop department. Sara keeps her head and discovers one of the teachers of the other classes has disappeared suddenly. She and Aitor sneak into her locker. Aitor tells her he can't keep being around her, and then they discover a notebook full of information. They pass it to DL and company, and together the group figures out that there is going to be an attack at the summit in less than forty minutes.
They contact the Hombres, and when they discover the explosives in the tires of one of the cars, the Hombres work quickly to remove the tires and, despite the CIA's protest, roll them to a safe area.
In the nick of time, they save the day. Yay! Dumb Americans. ;-)
End EPISODE
NEXT: Episode 8x02: Whether Pepa & Silvia are in it is a mystery, but at least Montoya gets some front and center time when he goes on a double date with Rita and the cousin she sets him up with, and though he hits it off with her, it's Rita who he's finally realizing he really wants.