8x10: My Girlfriend, The Hero
Recap by Misty Flores
Previously on LHDP: Paco and the team invaded a birthday party to get information on Bravante, and even though Aitor and Sara decided to have sex in the middle of an operation, they ended up catching Bravante and fingering a whole slew of bad guys. Meanwhile, Silvia and Pepa cemented their commitment to each other when Pepa renounced her top 5 fantasies (including Angelina Jolie).
We open in Sara's bedroom, where Aitor has set up the place to look like a crime scene. Sara plays along as his dead victim (ew), and then they get to sexing.
At Paco's house, Mariano is excited as he tells Paco that Lucas is on his way and will be there in time for Silvia and Pepa's wedding. Paco is super excited and decides to tell Sara.
Paco goes to Sara's apartment, but since no one answers, he decides to head inside. He opens the door to the bedroom just in time to see Sara riding Aitor like a bronco.
Paco is devastated, and leaves.
CREDITS
AT THE STATION - Curtis, Kike and Nelson excitedly pull up a news special about the San Antonio precinct catching more than 26 members of the Italian Mafia.
Paco and Mariano wait to be interviewed by the show 'Al Filo de la Calle'. Mariano wants to know why Paco isn't more excited, and Paco distractedly tells him he caught Sara with Aitor. Before Mariano can process that, the interview goes live. The group cheers when they see Paco and Mariano on stage, but when the interviewer asks Paco if they can consider organized crime defeated in San Antonio, Paco can't answer.
Salgado saves him, answering that it's impossible to confirm anything, but that DL, Montoya and Povedilla are in a Naples giving their statements in court. The interviewer opens the lines to the audience, and we get our first caller, Ernesto.
Ernesto tells the show that he's tired of hearing about the awesome cops in San Antonio. He says he's going to give them a case, and that he's got a .38 caliber revolver that he's going to use to gun down an innocent man.
He asks what the awesome policemen are going to do to stop it.
In the bullpen, Curtis looks around, and realizes all the semi-competent cops aren't around.
CURTIS: Where the hell is everybody?!
OUTSIDE THE BIKINI SHOP - Aitor prepares to enter a store with Pepa.
AITOR: I don't know what the hell I'm doing here. I don't know a fucking thing about bikinis.
Pepa just smiles and leads him in by the hand.
AITOR: Fuck.
INSIDE: Pepa starts sorting through the rack.
PEPA: So what do you do when you go to the beach? What, do you walk around with your eyes closed? I'm looking for the sexiest bikini for my honeymoon. All you have to do is stand there and look. When I find what I'm looking for, you won't need to say a thing: I'll see it in your face.
She blows him a kiss and enters the changing stall. Aitor takes the opportunity for some catching up.
AITOR: Listen, Pepa… how would you react if someone caught you … you know… giving it all you've got with your partner in bed?
Pepa peaks out.
LIZARRAN - Sara is also explaining the situation to her aunt Silvia.
SILVIA: He caught you with Aitor?!
Sara nods miserably. Leo smiles sympathetically.
LEO: I'll leave these here in case you want some breakfast.
SILVIA: Sara, look - there's these things called locks, and are you stupid?!
SARA: I already know, Silvia! What do I know, it all happened so fast – he came in without calling! And there I was in the middle of it.
THE BIKINI SHOP: Pepa comes out in a dress to cover her swim suit.
PEPA: How gorgeous, right? For a walk on the beach? Do you like it?
She walks back in.
PEPA: And what are we talking about – during or after?
AITOR: Right in the middle of it – with screaming and… well you know – everything that comes with it.
Pepa comes out in a yellow bikini. Aitor is distracted.
LIZARRAN –
SARA: I was on top of him.
SILVIA: You were on top!? Well thank God he didn't have his gun in his hand!
THE BIKINI SHOP- Pepa's in a different bikini.
PEPA: How did my brother take it?
AITOR: That one's not bad! Turn around? I like them all!
Pepa won't be distracted.
PEPA: How, Aitor?
AITOR: I don't know.
LIZARRAN –
SILVIA: And what are you going to do?
SARA: I don't know.
PEPA: Are you going to talk to him?
AITOR: I don't know, Pepa.
SILVIA: But you're going to talk to Lucas first, right?
SARA: I don't know, Silvia! I don't know! I don't know what I'm going to say, I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't know who I'm with! The one I just slept with or the one who bought me a house! The one who kisses me in the morning or the one who sends me flowers. With my husband or my lover.
Silvia headpalms.
SARA: Who am I with, Silvia?
LIZARRAN- Pepa comes out in a black bikini. Aitor's face clearly indicates THIS is the one. Pepa smiles triumphantly.
She puts the suit on the counter, along with the yellow one and the dress.
PEPA: I'll take this one. And this one. And this one too. I'm getting married tomorrow!
The sales girl pretends to care as she rings up Pepa's purchases.
PEPA: Look Aitor; in 1997, at Sara's first communion, Don Lorenzo, my dad and Paco caught me with my tongue down Silvia's throat. And nothing happened! [she thanks the sales girl and grabs her bags]. They just didn't speak to me for seven years.
AITOR: [dryly] Awesome.
Pepa stops and sighs.
PEPA: Come on, Aitor. Cheer up. Everything passes, okay?
Aitor's phone rings.
AITOR: What's up, Curtis?
LIZARRON – Rita runs into the restaurant.
RITA: Honey, we have to go to the precinct. There's a man whose taken someone hostage on live TV! Run! Run!
They run.
AITOR: We're on our way.
PEPA: What's happening?!
AITOR: Let's go!
They go.
IN THE PRECINCT - Ernesto keeps control of the airways, threatening to kill the hostage if they cut the feed. The police try to reassure him, Salgado saying that she knows that sometimes things are resolved in ways that aren't satisfactory.
Ernesto doesn't care for excuses and instead tells everyone to log into 'ineptpolice.com' to see what kind of police they have.
Paco and Nelson both log in. Mariano tries to reason with him, saying he knows that sometimes people die and they're sorry. Ernesto tells him to shut up. Nelson and Paco see what's on the screen and call over their superiors. It's Ernesto with his victim on screen, looking back at them.
Paco thinks it could be a hoax, but Ernesto just scoffs.
.
THE BULLPEN - Silvia and Sara run in.
ERNESTO: This man will die in exactly 19 minutes if you don't do anything to stop it.
SALGADO: Ernesto-
ERNESTO: Just so you don't think that this is a joke, I'll show you what I intend to do.
Curtis motions Silvia to a computer. She runs for it. Meanwhile, Ernesto wraps his gun in a white cloth and heads to the helpless victim.
SALGADO: Ernesto wait- listen to me. This isn't necessary. We know you're serious. I assure no one's going to cut the feed, but please put down the gun! Ernesto! Ernesto no!
He shoots. Everyone jumps.
CURTIS: Fuck!
MARIANO: Let's go!
Paco and Mariano get up and leave the couch.
Mariano is on the phone as he and Paco run down the stairs.
MARIANO: The situation is critical. We need to make sure the show stays on the air!
Sara tries to speak to her dad but he blows right by her. Ernesto keeps talking.
ERNESTO: You have exactly 18 minutes to try and save this man's life.
MARIANO: Exactly! Don't stop the feed!
PACO: Mariano, call Felix the psychiatrist, get him over here as soon as possible.
Mariano nods his assent. Paco heads to address the group.
PACO: Gentlemen, attention!
SILVIA: Paco! The blood is still seeping from the wound, I can even see it pumping – I don't think it's a fake.
Pepa and Aitor walk in. Pepa heads behind Silvia.
PACO: Let's hope it's a sick joke, but we're not going to take any chances. Don Lorenzo and Montoya aren't here. I need you to trust me.
Pepa smiles, of course. Rita nods. Curtis nods.
PACO: Let's get to work. We're going to take the feed directly from the interrogation room. Curtis, we need all the recent missing people reports. Nelson, you and Kike call the station – ask if one of their employees hasn't reported for work today. Okay? Silvia, the connection he's coming from, the IP, get the address, the name of the user, the pin, everything, now Silvia!
Silvia gets up and goes with Pepa.
RITA: Rita, take a clear picture of his face, send it to Central. Try to find out his identity –any information you can. Hurry!
Sara and Aitor wait for orders. They're ignored. Aitor is all upset and emo about it, especially when Sara can't take it and takes off. As Paco starts to come back he stops him and tells Paco he wants to help. Paco clearly ignores him so Aitor decides this is a perfect opportunity to waste more precious time when they're TRYING TO SAVE A MAN'S LIFE IN LESS THAN 16 MINUTES to go on and on about how he's not sorry for sleeping with Sara, and if Paco wants to ignore him fine, blah blah – Aitor, I officially hate you right now.
Paco walks away from him. As well he should.
IN THE INTERROGATION ROOM - Salgado assures Ernesto that they're live. Paco walks in and talks to the interviewer, telling her that the network has agreed to keep the show live. She sighs in disgust and says she won't give props to an assassin.
Salgado asks Ernesto why he's doing this. He responds, 'because of the death of his wife'. He blames her death for three reasons:
The greed, the clumsiness, and the cowardice of the police department.
Paco convinces the interviewer to keep going to save a man's life. She reluctantly agrees to talk to the camera man and goes.
THE LAB - Silvia and Pepa work together.
PEPA: Silvia, have you found the location of the website?
SILVIA: I've got the address and I'm running a trace on it, and trying to see what connection he's using, and the registration.
The search goes.
SILVIA: Now we can only wait.
Pepa hates waiting. She tries to distract herself.
PEPA: Have you talked to Sara? Is she okay?
SILVIA: Well, look, she may not be taking valium to sleep or having anxiety attacks but no… she's not okay.
PEPA: I don't get it. It's not like the world is ending. These things happen! Lucas leaves, in comes Aitor, that's it.
Silvia can't believe Pepa's flippant attitude.
SILVIA: Yeah, Pepa, but if there was a story that was ever set in stone, it was the one of Sara and Lucas! And look, in a year and a half it went to shit!
Pepa realizes there's more to this than their niece's infidelity. She gently comes closer.
PEPA: Are you okay?
SILVIA: No. Pepa, we're getting married, but give me one marriage that has lasted. Tell me just one! Me with Lucas? Bad. Sara and Lucas? Bad. Paco and Lola? Bad. Mariano and Salgado – bad! Pepa, it's just one failure after another!
Pepa doesn't know what to say. Silvia goes back to punching buttons.
IN THE BULLPEN - Aitor and Sara watch the report. Sara puts her hand on Aitor's shoulder in comfort. Mariano sees this, but is interrupted by Felix (YAY!) the shrink.
Mariano explains the situation and asks Felix to talk to him and attempt to stall. Felix agrees. Curtis, Kike and Nelson come up and tell him they think they've found the identity of the hostage. He has a wife and two kids.
Felix begins to talk to Ernesto, telling him he's not a cop but a psychiatrist. He asks Ernesto why he chose 19 minutes as his time frame. Ernesto in turn asks Salgado how long it takes to respond to a 10-34: an armed assault with hostages, a maximum priority. Salgado admits it should only take about 3-7 minutes to respond. Ernesto responds that in December of last year, the same call took 19 minutes to respond.
Meanwhile, Mariano frets about the Sara-Aitor situation to Paco – Lucas will be here in less than 16 hours. And what do they do?
Sara asks Aitor what he said to Paco. Aitor responds that its better that Paco knows, because everyone else knows that they've been sneaking around, making out in elevators, and changing shifts. Sara says Paco wont' even look at them, and Aitor responds that it's his right. He decides that what they have to do is catch the bad guy themselves (of course.). They know the call was in December, they can track it down. Sara agrees, and they get to work.
IN THE INTERROGATION ROOM - Salgado tries to reason with Ernesto, saying that response times can be delayed. He scoffs that the officers were late because they were having breakfast. They have less than five minutes.
Felix tells him it's not right to kill an innocent man without giving the police a chance to redeem themselves. Ernesto blurts angrily that if a cop can eat doughnuts he can save the man. Felix goes with it. Ernesto sees them trying to negotiate for time and decides to play along.
He says he'll give them 10 minutes, and then a cop has 3 minutes to eat 20 doughnuts. If he doesn't make it, the hostage will die.
THE LAB - Silvia is on the phone.
SILVIA: okay, thanks. Okay-okay.
She hangs up.
SILVIA: He's got a connection from a cell phone in a 45km radius. But it's going to take ten minutes to pinpoint the location!
Pepa sighs.
SILVIA: I feel so impotent!
She sits back down on her computer. Pepa takes a breath and places down a picture in front of Silvia.
PEPA: Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas. Raphael and Natalia Figueroa, Ana Belén and Víctor Manuel, Zapatero and Sonsoles Espinosa, Paul Newman and his wife – I don't know her name - Alaska and Mario Vaquerizo.
SILVIA: [smiling] Pepa, this isn't the time.
PEPA: Look redhead, these people have been married for a hell of a lot of years. And they're happy.
Silvia smiles with Pepa. Pepa rounds her and puts down a pamphlet for an estate.
PEPA: I told you I would take care of the location, didn't I? 50 kilometers from Madrid. 30 acres of natural park without a road in sight. 20 square meters of living room and a bed the size of a soccer stadium. Do you really think that a marriage that begins in a place like that could go wrong?
Silvia smiles and shakes her head, but as Pepa walks away, her doubts return.
IN THE INTERROGATION ROOM - Felix gives his profile to the group, saying that the man is in a lot of pain, isn't afraid, is full of rage and is certainly capable of killing the hostage, and himself when he's doing toying with them.
Curtis tells them that Silvia is running the IP search but it's taking time and they only have three minutes left. Paco asks Felix if they pass his test, will they get more time? Felix says they probably will – his goal is to show the police as inept, and any chance he has to prove that, he'll take it. Salgado won't hear of it, but Paco sees no other option.
Mariano volunteers to eat the doughnuts.
IN THE BULLPEN- Sara and Aitor go through files. Sara takes the opportunity to tell him that she intentionally left the door unlocked because she doesn't care who knows about them – she no longer feels guilty for loving him. EVEN IF SHE'S MARRIED. Brats.
The NEWSFEED goes on, the reporter giving an update on what's going on, reminding the audience of what's going on.
IN THE INTERROGATION ROOM – Mariano has the doughnuts in front of him, and frets about it.
MARIANO: Fuck, Paco! Why'd you bring the XXL doughnuts? And the ones with jelly! The jelly makes you more full!
SILVIA walks in with water bottles.
SILVIA: Here, Mariano. Drink half a centiliter after each donut, if not you'll risk blocking your respiratory system.
MARIANO: Fuck!
PACO: Let's see, that's 20 doughnuts in 3 minutes. That should be…
SALGADO: Paco… that's 1 doughnut every nine seconds.
MARIANO: Fuck! And here I was on a diet for Pepa and Silvia's wedding, dammit! So long without bread or soda and now it's all gone to hell!
REPORTER: [to the audience] To pass the test, Inspector Moreno will have to eat 1 doughnut every 9 seconds!
ERNESTO: gentleman, please-
REPORTER: He's talking to us!
ERNESTO: Please leave me alone with Inspector Moreno.
The group reluctantly leaves.
ERNESTO: I want to see you eat 20 doughnuts or I empty the damn cylinder.
IN THE BULLPEN – Sara and Aitor do stuff we couldn't care less about.
ERNESTO: Your time starts… now.
SALGADO: Three minutes.
Mariano begins to stuff doughnuts down his throat. Nelson thinks it's impossible. Sara and Aitor keep working.
SILVIA: After the 12th or 13th doughnut, it's very likely to cause acute dyspepsia.
SALGADO: Have you notified the ambulance?
SILVIA: Yes. They're on their way.
Mariano keeps eating. Time keeps ticking down. Sara and Aitor find another case that matches.
ERNESTO: One minute!
SALGADO [to Silvia]: Snap a picture of his location, analyze it millimeter by millimeter- we need to find out where he is!
Silvia nods and goes. Mariano stands up and starts to gag.
ERNESTO: Ten seconds!
Mariano retches. Paco tries to go in but Salgado stops him by clutching his hand.
ERNESTO: Five seconds!
There's one doughnut left. Mariano STUFFS it in his mouth. Just in time. He starts to choke. Paco comes to his aid.
SALGADO: Ernesto! Put down the gun! The agent has done it! Put down the gun!
Shocked, he puts down the gun slowly. The ambulance crew takes away Mariano.
ERNESTO: Very well. But the game continues. I'll be in touch.
Paco LUNGES for the camera, but is stopped.
IN THE LAB - Silvia has the feed on as Sara and Aitor come in.
AITOR: Silvia, Pepa – we've found 10 cases with deaths in 2008 that match point for point what the guy is saying.
IN THE INTERROGATION ROOM - Paco offers to reopen the case, but Ernesto tells him the case was closed when his wife was taken away in a body bag. Felix intercedes, admitting that the police failed him, but says they're trying to make reparations. He asks what else they can do.
ERNESTO: What else can you do? Do you want to keep playing? Good. In the academy, they train the recruits to hit a fixed target from 20 meters, right? That man had my wife when the agents came. When he saw them, he squeezed off two shots. It was a code 10.
In the lab, Silvia gasps.
ERNESTO: The agents returned fire-
SILVIA: Did you hear that?! He's talking about a Code 10. And before that a 10-34. He either knows the police codes himself or he's had access to the police communication reports.
SARA: It has to be this one! Mercedes Galan and her husband was a fireman!
AITOR: The firemen know our codes!
ERNESTO: The agents fired 4 shots at less than 20 meters-
PEPA: Capture that! And print it, please!
AITOR: What's going on?
Pepa runs to the printer.
ERNESTO: Not one met its mark. Tell me, Inspector Miranda? Can your men hit a target at twenty meters?
PACO: I don't know. You are right, Ernesto, our agents are trained to shoot at 20 meters in our shooting gallery. But being that accurate isn't an exact science.
AITOR: Firemen are strong. This guy's strong! Let's go!
SARA: This guy uses glasses, people with bad vision aren't allowed in the fire department.
SILVIA: Yeah, but they could be multifocal lenses for vision fatigue. And if he retired a year ago… It's not conclusive. Look at this!
AITOR: What?
PEPA: This guy has a scar on his forearm!
SILVIA: Based on the severity of the burn, he had to have gotten it from a heat of at least 700 degrees. Like the flames at a fire!
SARA: It has to be the fireman! Here's the address!
AITOR: Let's go! Sara, let's go!
They run out. In the interrogation room -
PACO: What do you want?
ERNESTO: I want one of your agents to shoot a bottle from 20 meters, but off the top of the head of another one of your agents. You have ten minutes.
Paco looks at Salgado.
SALGADO: No.
Watching, Pepa immediately straightens up and runs out of the lab. Silvia calls after her, but to no avail.
Sara and Aitor drive to the location. Sara calls the guy crazy but Aitor defends him, saying that if something happened to Sara and he lost her, he wouldn't know what he would do.
Awesome. Aitor is now officially creepier than the dude holding the guy hostage.
MEANWHILE, Salgado argues with Paco that even if they pass this test, there's no guarantee that they're going to save the hostage. They'll just keep getting test after test until they fail one and then he'll die anyway. Paco agrees and tells Felix that when they connect again, they'll have to tell Ernesto that he's under arrest, they're going to charge him with kidnapping, and attempted first degree murder. That's it then.
But his phone rings. It's Sara, who after a moment of awkwardness, tells him they found the guy and they'll be at his place in ten minutes. They only have seven minutes left.
PACO: We need to stall until they get there. We need another three minutes.
Pepa quietly enters.
FELIX: I think the best thing to do would be to go ahead with the test as if you're going to do it. So he won't suspect a thing.
SALGADO: Paco, who is the best shot in the precinct?
Pepa immediately steps forward.
PEPA: I have a 9/10 accuracy in long distance shooting.
PACO: I'm with you, sister. I'll be the one standing there with you.
CURTIS: no, boss, no.
Curtis steps forward.
CURTIS: You're in charge and we need you to stay that way. The guy with the bottle will be me.
Pepa and Curtis smile tightly at each other.
NEWSBREAK – the reporter once again updates them as the interviewer heads into the shooting gallery, where Curtis and Pepa are getting ready.
REPORTER: The anguish at the San Antonio Precinct continues. We'll remind you that a man has threatened to murder an innocent man on live television, and has given the police insane tasks to accomplish.
The interviewer runs followed by the camera.
INTERVIEWER: Through here! Are you with me? We're in the shooting gallery of the precinct, where Agents Miranda and Naranjo are preparing for the second test.
ERNESTO: Gentleman, your time is running out. The police response time needs to be quick. Intuitive.
FELIX: Ernesto, tell me about her. What was your wife like?
ERNESTO: My wife? You wouldn't understand it, doctor. Someone defined love as someone's home, and it's true. She was my home. The doors. The furniture. The coffee, the aroma, the sheets, the folded laundry, the empty space in the bed… She was everything. It's not fair that they killed her.
FELIX: Has it occurred to you that the man you're holding hostage is also someone's home? Have you thought of that, Ernesto?
Ernesto starts to cry.
ERNESTO: If you're looking for someone to blame, look at the shit police! And now, gentlemen, at twenty meters, demonstrate how the responsibility of not blowing a colleague's head open is enough to save his life!
Paco calls Sara and tells here they're running out of time.
SARA: We're almost there, Dad, one minute!
ERNESTO: In school, recruits have to shoot from 20 meters.
Pepa and Curtis clasp hands, and then Curtis makes the long walk to the other end of the gallery. Pepa closes her eyes, bracing herself.
ERNESTO: Demonstrate that your agents would have made the shot!
SALGADO: Ernesto, our agents are preparing themselves! They're measuring the distance! Give us two minutes!
Curtis keeps watching. Silvia watches from the lab. Sara and Aitor keep driving.
FELIX: Ernesto, keep talking!
ERNESTO: I know what you're trying to do. I know that this is all a lie. You're trying to make it look like you're doing it to stall for time!
PACO: Sara, Sara, where are you! Curtis is almost there!
AITOR: We're here Paco!
PACO: We don't have time!
They drive up.
SARA: Dad we're here! Just a little more time!
AITOR: It's that building there, Sara!
They run inside.
ERNESTO: You've probably discovered my identity. My job. You probably have an entire report on my life. You probably have a few of your agents headed to my house, right?
The Superbrats (TM JT4702) arrive and are heading for the apartment. Curtis is at the end of the gallery with the bottle on his head. Pepa takes a deep breath.
ERNESTO: But you're not going to find anything!
PACO: Sara, my love! He knows you're on your way. Be careful!
Salgado pushes the camera away as she talks to Pepa.
SALGADO: Don't even think about shooting, understood? We're going to wait until the last possible moment to shoot. It's the only thing we can do for this man.
Curtis swallows valiantly. Pepa nods tensely. Aitor and Sara walk in the most stupid way possible to the apartment. I'm not even an officer and I know you can disarm them in half a second with the way they're walking with their guns out like that.
Well, the tae kwon do training helps. But still. Stupid.
ERNESTO: To enter the house would be useless. Your time is up.
He holds the gun up to the hostage's head. Sara and Aitor enter the house, and Sara screams when she sees a fireman dummy.
PACO: Sara!? Sara answer please! What's happening?!
AITOR: It looks like it's empty.
SARA: Dad, it looks like the apartment is empty. There's no one here.
Paco shakes his head wearily at Salgado. Pepa gets ready.
FELIX: Tell me what happened.
Pepa aims, but hesitates.
CURTIS: What are you waiting for? Come on, brunette, fire! You and I aren't the type to hesitate.
Everyone watches in horror. Pepa breathes in harshly.
FELIX: Your wife? What was her name, Ernesto?
Pepa raises her gun.
SALGADO: Pepa. Pepa put down your gun.
ERNESTO: Thirty seconds!
CURTIS: Fire!
SALGADO: Don't even think about firing!
CURTIS: What other option de we have Marina? What other option? Let the hostage be riddled with bullets? Live for the whole of Spain! Fire! Pepa!
Pepa is now visibly tortured, staring helplessly at Salgado. Silvia watches her lover on the screen.
Pepa closes her eyes, overwhelmed, tries to calm herself. Everyone waits tensely.
ERNESTO: 5 seconds!
Something clicks. Pepa's eyes open and the world has fallen away – there's only her and her concentration.
Time ticks down – SHE SHOOTS.
The bottle explodes. Curtis lets out a frightened yell. But he's alive.
Pepa's head falls back in relief. No one can believe it. Silvia breaks out in an amazed smile of relief.
The precinct breaks out in applause. Ernesto lowers the gun – he can't believe it.
Salgado pulls Pepa into a fierce hug. Felix runs into the gallery.
CURTIS: Good shot, friend.
Pepa grins, and they clasp hands, before pulling each other into an affectionate hug.
ERNESTO: Very good. You've managed to overcome the greed and stupidity that took the life of my wife. Now there's only cowardice. In ten minutes, I'll tell you what to do.
Paco tells Sara they now have more time. Sara tries to tell her father about Aitor, but clams up and just says they'll keep searching the apartment. Paco listens to the dial tone and tells her that he loves her and he's an idiot and he's sorry. If Aitor is what she wants, then it's fine. Whatever she wants is fine. Salgado sees him and silently comforts him.
THE BULLPEN - Curtis comes slowly back into the bullpen, where Kike and Nelson are waiting for him. They hug him joyfully.
THE LAB - Pepa comes into the lab and collapses against the door, until she notices the amazed, adoring smile that a waiting Silvia has directed her way.
SILVIA: Do you know what I've been thinking?
Pepa comes forward, her smile soft and tentative.
SILVIA: I don't know if all marriages fail, or if people just like to cheat, or they just end up in divorce, but I'm not going to let someone with that kind of aim escape.
Silvia reaches up and caresses Pepa's face.
SILVIA: With a sharpshooter like you, what could possibly happen to me?
Pepa's smile is blinding; she pulls Silvia to her for a passionate, loving kiss.
Their loving moment is interrupted by the beep of Silvia's computer. Silvia immediately runs back to it.
PEPA: What are you doing?
SILVIA: I froze the image and increased the pixels for the maximum resolution to see what's behind him.
PEPA: Is that a prosthetic leg?
SILVIA: Yes, and this is a mannequin's head. Umbrellas.
PEPA: I don't understand it, Silvia. This could be anywhere. Could it be a second hand store?
AITOR AND SARA keep scoping out the fireman's place.
RITA enters the interrogation room carrying takeout.
RITA: I brought this in case you got hungry later.
Paco talks to Ernesto.
PACO: Ernesto listen to me. we've finished two of your tests, but you haven't given us anything in return. This man has lost a lot of blood. You've probably hit an artery and he's bleeding out.
ERNESTOR: We're still not finished, Inspector Miranda.
Rita's phone rings. It's Montoya.
RITA: I'm sorry.
She rushes out to answer it.
Silvia and Pepa put on their headsets and listen in as he talks.
ERNESTO: Listen to me. I need you to understand me. That man, grabbed my wife, put a gun to her chest, and fired. Afterwards, he simply went ran away, and no one went after him! They didn't let me intervene. No one had the courage to chase and capture the man who killed my wife.
OUTSIDE, Rita takes her phone call.
RITA: Hello, Inspector Montoya. You've been told what's happening, right?
MONTOYA: Yes, Rita, we've been told. We're on our way back as fast as we can.
RITA: Good.
MONTOYA: Rita. I know that this isn't the best time but… I really miss you here in Naples. And… well, normally it's really hard for me to say these things, but… I don't know, now it just seems easy. I love you. That's all, Rita.
Rita cries, overcome.
RITA: I… I love you too, Inspector Montoya. For so long.
MONTOYA: Please, Rita, don't call me Inspector.
RITA: I'm sorry! I love you, Gonzalo! I love you!
Montoya grins, and Rita, excited, begins to scream the words.
RITA: I love you, Gonzalo! I love you! I love you, Gonzalo! I love you!
IN THE LAB – Pepa hears something.
PEPA: Wait. I think I heard something in the background.
SILVIA: Let me rewind the recording and take the sound, clean it up and amplify it.
THE SUPERBRATS – continue to search. FELIX asks Ernesto what else he wants. Ernesto wants them to demonstrate their courage. He wants one of them to cut off a finger in front of him to save this man's life.
Everyone reacts. Paco asks him if he will really let the man go if they do it. Ernesto says he has nothing more to gain. If they do this, everything will be over.
Paco asks Salgado for a paper cutter. Salgado asks if he's joking.
PEPA AND SILVIA are going over the clip.
PEPA: This guy has to be in a place with people close by, Silvia. That's why he had to muffle the gunshots – because someone could have heard him.
IN THE INTERROGATION ROOM - Salgado, extremely upset, pulls rank. She tells him she won't let him do this. He says that may be so, but it's his finger. Felix thinks they can reattach it if it's a clean cut. Paco asks Felix to alert Silvia, and get an icebox. Mariano shows up with the paper cutter.
Meanwhile the SUPERBRATS continue to search the house – they find a floor plan of the precinct taped on his wall.
Mariano suggests Paco cut off the left pinkie, since the left hand is used less.
IN THE LAB - Silvia plays the sound again.
PEPA: Stop-stop – play it again. Play it again and try and make it louder.
Silvia does.
SILVIA: This is as clear as we're going to get, okay?
RITA [static]: I LOVE YOU, GONZALO! I LOVE YOU –I LOVE YOU!
PEPA: It's Rita!
SILVIA: That can't be! She was just in the interrogation room!
They immediately strip off the headphones and run for the door.
IN THE BULLPEN- everyone watches the TV in horror. Rita comes down the stairs in a daze.
Pepa & Silvia scramble after her.
SILVIA: Rita! You told Gonzalo 'I love you-I love you-"where were you?!
Pepa sees the television, and what her brother is about to do. Her eyes widen in horror. Rita, however, is affronted.
RITA: I'm sorry, but that was a private conversation, about a private matter.
Pepa has no patience for that. She grabs Rita by the collar.
PEPA: Rita, for the love of GOD!
She motions at the TV. Rita gasps.
PEPA: Where the hell was that fucking conversation! Where!
Silvia's phone rings.
SILVIA: Tell me, Sara!
SARA: Silvia! Silvia, he's in the precinct!
RITA: I was in the freight elevator-
AITOR: In the second basement, Sara!
SARA: In the second basement!
RITA: In the second basement!
Pepa and Silvia look at each other.
PEPA: Son of a bitch. He was playing us this whole time!
She thinks about it.
PEPA: He's in the storage room! The old lost and found storage room! Let's go!
She sprints up the stairs.
PEPA: Rita! Rita, let's go!
RITA: I'm coming!
They run.
IN THE INTERROGATION ROOM –
INTERVIEWER: We're almost ready to see the last test. The Inspector has volunteered to cut off his finger in front of the camera. All of this will be over.
Silvia and Pepa race up the stairs. Pepa slams into another officer, but keeps going.
Paco puts his hand in the paper cutter. Everyone watches with baited breath. Silvia, Rita and Pepa get to the elevator. Pepa waits impatiently for it. It finally comes, and they ready themselves and go in.
PACO: Mariano. I need your help.
MARIANO: Don't ask me that, please. Don't ask me that, I can't! I can't! I can't do it, Paco! I can't.
PACO: I can't do it by myself.
MARIANO: Son of a bitch.
He comes forward and puts his hand on the cutter.
Pepa has made it into the storage room with the girls.
PACO: Before I cut off my finger, I want to tell you two things. I'm very sorry for what happened to your wife.
The girls ready themselves. Rita nearly knocks over some mannequins.
ERNESTO: And the second?
PACO: I'm sure that my men would have sacrificed their own lives to save your wife's. Any one of them.
The men are touched.
ERNESTO: Time's up, Inspector. Do it.
PACO: Mariano.
The girls continue to sneak up on him. Mariano struggles visibly to cut off the finger.
PACO: Mariano! Easy! It's just a finger! It's a finger or the life of a man, dammit!
Ernesto puts his gun up to the hostage's head.
PACO: Do it, Mariano! Fuck!
ERNESTO: 5 seconds.
PACO: [sobbing]: No, no!
The girls come closer.
ERNESTO: Three…
PACO: Mariano, fuck!
ERNESTO: Two…
Pepa, now just around the corner, makes her move.
PEPA: Freeze!
Mariano SLAMS down the cutter. Paco screams, jerking back.
PEPA: Freeze, Police! Put down the fucking gun.
Silvia comes up from behind. He's blocked.
Paco still has his finger, he's beyond relieved.
PEPA: Put down the gun.
He raises his arms, but what looks like a surrender turns into a suicide attempt when he turns the gun on himself
PEPA:NO!
She fires, hitting him in the shoulder. He goes down. Silvia checks the hostage's pulse.
SILVIA: Paco, he's alive!
Everyone breathes a sigh of relief.
PACO: Fuck, Mariano! Didn't you see they already had him?! Dammit!
Sara gets the news. She and Aitor hug. Paco and Mariano hug.
The entire precinct breaks out in applause.
Pepa holds a gun to the fallen Ernesto.
ERNESTO: Inspector Miranda was right. My wife would still be alive.
CUT TO – THE PROGRAM
VO: Today, all the details of the case that captivated all of Spain!
There are clips of what went down.
VO: We'll analyze every detail. Every look from the heroes of San Antonio. Every step that led to the arrest live and direct of Jose Luis Granados, the man who challenged the National Police Force. Today on a special "Al Filo de La Calle' at 22:15.
A waiter turns off the TV, and Paco takes a picture with a fan before he sits down with Salgado. There, she admits to him that she was acting with her feelings, not her authority, when she tried to keep him from cutting off her finger.
She's sure she's fucking things up, but she's pretty sure she's falling in love with him.
Paco blinks, stunned.
With nothing he can say, he takes a drink of beer.
End EPISODE
NEXT: Episode 8x11: The group excitedly gets ready for Pepa and Silvia's wedding day, unaware that the Italian Mob has targeted the wedding for a personal attack.