A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
WE'RE LETTING IT HAPPEN
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL EQUALITY
NEW POST
THE MINIONS OF MIDAS
PUBLISH
50 DAYS EARLIER
Social unrest continues to grow on our continent
and already poses a violent threat to political stability.
This violence has been popping up
throughout all European countries.
There is no clear motivation, no concrete demands
or obvious leaders.
And albeit belatedly, we have also seen
how the spark of unrest ignited the riots.
What is now being called "The Spanish Revolt,"
started two weeks ago as a peaceful protest
against rising electricity prices.
Gradually, thousands have joined in,
people of all classes and ideologies.
We're fed up and nobody cares.
Listen to what I'm saying: Your time has come.
We're at war, okay? Fear will change sides.
Together, we're unstoppable, okay?
We're unstoppable!
The fucking wrath of the people. We're the wrath of the people.
-Anything for me? -Yes.
"Dear Mr. Genovés,
We ask that you sell the shares you own, as needed,
to deliver us 50 million euros in cash."
Good morning.
"To avoid undue pressure, we will give you ten days,
starting today, to meet our demands.
Alternatively, if you prefer,
we will accept payment in installments,
but bear in mind that it will be impossible
to accept any amount lower than five million euros.
Believe us, Mr. Genovés,
we do not bear the slightest bit of ill will towards you.
You will soon understand that, like you,
we are just businessmen, but with a slight difference:
we specialize in a particular type of speculation,
which is highly profitable,
but requires that we do away with certain ethical scruples.
Therefore, we would appreciate it
if you did not involve the police in our relationship.
Once you have understood and accepted our conditions,
place an ad in the classified section of El Observador Nacional,
including your initials and agreement.
Ideally, the ad should be placed before October 1st.
Otherwise,
someone chosen at random will die that day on Avenida de Valvanera
at the break of day.
We do not know that person.
Neither do you.
Only you can save them.
Sincerely yours,
The Minions of Midas."
Gloria!
You're still here?
Good evening, sir. I'm about to go, was just finishing up.
-Want me to put that away? -Thanks.
Leave it in the back room for now.
It was a gift. I don't know what do to with it.
Sir?
Yes?
Why don't you let me start emptying the boxes?
No, we have to do that together, Gloria.
It's mostly paperwork. I'll let you know.
Anything else?
No.
No, thank you. Go get some rest.
Good night.
You moved here eight months ago.
When you move in… you have to actually move in.
THE MINIONS OF MIDAS
THE MYTH OF KING MIDAS
MIDAS ORGANIZATION
MIDAS EXTORTION
THE TEMPTATION OF MIDAS
Come on.
Go in!
Sit down, miss.
You are in no danger here.
Welcome.
I understand that you just landed a few hours ago.
I don't think you... feel very happy right now.
Thank you for coming.
I don't usually cover this kind of story.
-I'm not a war reporter -I know.
I didn't choose you for that.
We share the same profession.
Please, I beg you to turn on your recorder and we'll begin.
I… collaborated with this criminal regime for 28 years.
I have been lying for this government all this time.
I'm here with you now, then soon I'll be with other journalists
to admit my responsibility in all of it.
The thousands of deaths, the dead children,
and the exterminated generations that will never come back.
Too little, too late.
It's the only thing I can… offer.
That and the information I possess.
One of the leading banks in your country…
has been financing this government for six years.
It makes huge profits from the sale of arms to this government.
They do it through two European banks and a Libyan one,
all belonging to the conglomerate of Banco Industrial in Madrid.
The details of all the movements are here.
The worst of all is that it's legal.
But the Banco Industrial...
Are you sure that I am the right person?
Your newspaper has a good reputation.
And I read your article about the Central Bank.
Impulsive,
but honest.
Why now?
I was born here.
So was my son.
And I think I will die here.
Things can keep getting worse.
Always.
I just can't keep looking the other way.
Only nine months ago, many of us hadn't heard of Víctor Genovés.
Overnight, he became the president
of one of the largest media companies in the country.
He had just inherited, much to our surprise,
Antonio Malvar's empire.
Today, the Malvar Group has not only overcome adversity
in the wake of its founder's death,
but its share price also continues to rise.
Víctor Genovés.
-Congratulations and welcome. -Thank you.
Well, I have to ask…
Why you?
Well, let's just say that…
INTERVIEW WITH VÍCTOR GENOVÉS CEO, MALVAR GROUP
I don't have the faintest idea.
You knew Antonio Malvar well.
I'm sure you must have some idea.
Antonio Malvar was no ordinary man.
He wasn't your average businessman.
He believed deeply in our system,
which is very unusual nowadays.
He believed profit had the ability to drive social change.
He wasn't about just making money.
He believed in being proud of how you earn your money.
I suppose an example of that is El Observador Nacional,
the group's main newspaper.
However, for many years now, that old newspaper hasn't turned a profit.
El Observador Nacional has played
a crucial role in this country since the democratic transition and still does.
That "old newspaper," as you call it,
is an important symbol for many people.
Well… an unsustainable one, nonetheless.
What a bitch!
By the way, it's the only flaw experts see in your management of the Group.
Well, the arrival of the Internet led some media companies
to cut costs, trim the fat.
We decided to double down, investing in our quality and prestige.
Come on, Genovés is waiting.
Our goal is to be the main Spanish-language newspaper,
which will be very lucrative in the long term.
We waited until we had everything almost firmed up.
Congrats on the interview.
They're arms dealers, Víctor. They sell many weapons.
To a dictator.
We can easily follow the weapons' trail to the Al Bayda massacre.
About 200 people died. More than 60 were kids.
You could say we have a story.
That bank has financed the Group for over 15 years.
They have lent us millions of euros.
Besides, they own 4% of our shares.
It's not a story, it's a bombshell.
Furthermore, El Observador has preserved its solid reputation
because I've convinced many people
to take on its debts… Banco Industrial is one of them.
All I know is, I've been working on this for almost six months.
It's a massive scandal,
and I owe it to Said Alfaad.
Assuming this is all true,
and leaving your feelings aside,
why should we publish it?
Why publish something that could prevent us
from publishing other equally important stories?
This is the only valid option.
Aside from my feelings,
and the company's situation,
it's what's right.
There are always options.
All right.
Mónica…
I have a lot of work to do. Goodbye.
Thank you for seeing us,
but let me just warn you, Víctor,
-if we don't publish it, someone will. -Was it all fact-checked?
We're missing key quotes from the CEO of the French bank.
He's the link with Industrial.
-That and a few more statements-- -Finish it up.
What are you doing? Where are you pushing it?
-There. Come on. -Not this way. That way!
-Honestly… -Nope. We have to flip it.
That's the last thing I needed.
I'm getting a drink.
-It's 6:00 p.m. -So what? I'm retired.
After 11 years together, this is all that jerk left me.
An out-of-tune piano.
-Nice to see you so cheerful. -Yes, super cheerful.
I got dumped at 64 years of age,
my pension will go down 32 euros,
I have a piano I can't seem to get rid of,
and I just found out
my only daughter spends her weekends in Syria,
with all those missile strikes.
It was one day. Don't overreact, Mom.
If that story is going to be such a career boost, why are you worried?
They won't publish it.
My only option may be posting it on the blog.
-Sell it to another paper. -They wouldn't take it.
Lots of publications will blackball me…
They'll shit on me until no one will ever come near me.
Is it worth it?
If other companies won't publish it,
it doesn't mean I'm exempt from my journalistic duty, right?
Would you forget about the story to keep your job?
Why do you have to save the world alone
and ruin your future if everyone else doesn't care?
-I'm not like everyone else. -No kidding!
You think you're better.
Maybe…
But someone's gotta do it.
I'm proud of you, sweetie.
Come on…
Help me move that out.
Tell me, what's your plan for the piano?
Sell it.
Right. And you'll leave it on the landing until then.
I don't know what I'll do with it. For now, help me get it out of here.
Turn it towards you.
MURDERERS -CROOKS
DISOBEDIENCE FOREVER
This neighborhood doesn't look very… safe.
She changed the location last minute.
Who knows why?
She always looks for different spots…
weird ones.
She's like that.
There it is.
Should I wait for you?
No, don't worry.
I'll find my way back.
I just hope she lets me.
Oh, by the way…
Since you're a Real Madrid fan, I have two box seats.
Do you want them? I never have the time.
Yes, of course.
You'll have them tomorrow.
Good night, Diego.
Good evening, sir. Thank you.
Come in.
-Good evening. -Thank you.
Víctor Genovés, the prodigal son!
Jose Alva...
Welcome back.
You were in a hurry, right?
I've been dreaming of this.
-I'm talking about the crab. -Right.
Madrid is getting a bit tacky.
You're really trying to be like New York.
I lived there for 15 years. Not even close.
This has been here almost a century.
-Did you know this place? -No.
Sorry I missed your coronation.
It was discreet.
Nobody saw it coming.
Weren't your ears burning?
You raised many suspicions.
I've heard the rumors,
but no one has actually come forward.
I'm so proud of you.
And how have you been?
All the gossip…
Dopa Digital,
the "Platform Queen,"
choosing Spain as her springboard into Europe.
I was homesick.
We came to Spain to give the people what they want.
Is everything okay?
Thanks, Sergio.
Did a girl come with the throne?
Managing the inheritance…
has drained me of all my energy.
But I'm fine, really.
What about Tom?
We broke up.
He was getting into politics.
He got boring.
But you're right. It's much better this way.
Tell me you remember Boston.
We had fun there.
We had lots of fun.
I'm living in a hotel's Presidential suite,
like a retired rock star.
It's me and 11 other executives.
My cubs.
We got the entire floor for ourselves.
I'll be watching you.
You're a small paper...
but a competitor, nonetheless.
I missed you, Jose.
I have to go to the conference.
Lunch is cooking, kids.
Elena,
turn off the stove at 11:00.
Okay.
I didn't sleep at all last night, Lucia.
No.
No, that's not it. Talking and managing the program
just makes me stressed.
Right.
Listen, tell the guys
to send me a spreadsheet of the first three months.
I want to start on--
It's no use being shocked.
Selling arms to a sovereign country, whether you like the regime or not,
is perfectly legal.
Close to half a million people died in Syria, Mr. Valente.
You were hiding the transactions.
"Hiding" them?
You're telling me about the dead in Syria.
Here's my question:
Are they my responsibility?
They're not mine to bury.
What about Banco Industrial de Madrid?
The Arana-Vélez family?
Everyone profited from it.
No doubt, but it all started back in 2014.
However, the sale only became official less than a year ago.
Mr. Valente, why did you finally agree to this interview?
In 2014,
three different companies
each acquired 22% of my bank's assets.
Those companies have since vanished.
-And those companies… -Those companies
were subsidiaries of Banco Industrial, yes.
Everyone knew that.
Are you confirming that Banco Industrial
owned your bank and had been aware of dealings
with the Syrian regime since 2014?
The answer is yes.
Motherfuckers!
Go back to your mansions!
What's going on?
"Dear Mr. Genovés,
as you can see,
we have promptly upheld our end of the deal.
Someone died this morning.
We believe this will convince you
that our intentions are serious.
If you do not contact us within ten days,
another innocent life will be taken on the 11th in the Ópera neighborhood.
We hope you are enjoying good health.
Sincerely,
The Minions of Midas"
"This idea of yours is shitty."
That's exactly what they said.
He said, "Yes, it's shitty, but…"
He started justifying it…
Víctor, are you even listening?
Yes, I was just thinking…
Detective Conte.
Thanks for coming.
Follow me, please.
As you know, I don't usually make house calls.
I'm aware, but you must understand that,
for a case like this,
I'd rather not go to a police station.
But you called the Secretary of State for Security.
That's right.
Sit down, please.
The woman who was run over was Susana Ruiz Plasencia.
She was 45 and is survived by her two daughters,
both of them are underage.
She had no criminal history, whatsoever.
May I see the letter?
I threw it away.
For some reason, I kept the envelope. It's in here.
As I already told the Secretary of State,
after the hit-and-run, they sent me an email.
They claim responsibility and have given me another payment deadline.
In theory, if I don't pay, someone else will die in eight days.
This is a very odd case…
Mr. Genovés.
Apart from this email, we have nothing that indicates
that Mrs. Ruiz's death wasn't just an accident, a hit and run.
This could even be some madman,
claiming responsibility for an accident to profit from it.
The letter...
It specified the time and place.
The letter...
which we don't have.
Well, Mr. Genovés, this…
Whatever it is, it looks like extortion, and that's how we'll treat it.
Consequently, I'll need your collaboration.
I'll have to ask you some questions about your family, your associates.
It will take a few hours.
I'll also ask the judge for a warrant to monitor your communications.
I wanted to tell you first.
All my communications?
If this is indeed serious
and you want to put an end to it, this is the way.
Are you suggesting I'm responsible, Mr. Conte?
That isn't my intention at all.
You make it sound like I have a problem
and called you to fix it for me. That's false.
This is a public safety issue. Your job is to resolve it.
I'm only reporting it,
using the channels I deemed appropriate.
That's one way to look at it.
Here you go.
Is that all?
My secretary will show you out.
Thanks again for coming, Mr. Conte.
Thank you.
All night, too?
Yes, Laura.
So instead of spending time with him, you send your thugs?
How are you going to tell him? I won't do it.
The same way I told you.
He has seen the protests.
I'll explain to him that it's a precautionary measure.
By having someone watch his every move,
you're telling him the people out there are dangerous and want to hurt us.
That's what you're saying.
Laura, please.
Can you stop twisting things around?
-I just want to protect him and you. -For fuck's sake…
I have to go.
They're coming at seven. They know what to do.
Where's Marcos?
In his room.
I'll give him a kiss and make weekend plans.
I'll take him fencing.
He quit fencing almost two months ago, Víctor.
Why did you quit fencing?
Did something happen?
Were you bored? Were your opponents really bad?
Marcos, I'm sorry…
I wasn't able to practice more with you.
Since I became president, I haven't had the time.
But we can sign you up for it again.
Right?
Or something else. What sports do you like?
I don't know.
Can I have the chair?
I have homework.
The inheritance has made things tricky, right?
I always liked this house.
You'll be late.
You can switch cameras… like this.
As you see, it's easy.
And it's set up so you can watch on your phone or other devices.
Okay. Have your men...?
They're on watch. Don't worry.
Your son is in good hands.
Call me if you have any questions.
-Mr. Genovés. -Thanks.
-Please. -Thank you.
Good morning.
Mauro and Julián are our in-house attorneys.
Silvia, my secretary.
Javier, over there, is our CFO.
Isabel, as you know, is our PR Director.
This is Mónica Báez, staff writer.
Sit down, please.
We carefully read through the material you sent us…
this morning.
And it's…
interesting.
Interesting?
Everything you wrote about is legal.
Completely legal.
It's "completely" immoral.
That isn't the issue, Luis. We're not the morality police.
-You're journalists-- -Sorry, we are morally obligated.
We owe it to the company, which keeps many families afloat,
including our own.
Running it would be like cutting their lifeline.
An unacceptable violation of business ethics.
Let me get this straight,
in order to protect your code of ethics, we have to blow ours to hell.
Is that it?
Luis, it's much simpler than that.
We'd be declaring war against a much stronger enemy.
Perhaps, if it were in self-defense,
but this would be a premeditated and unjustified attack.
Why are we all here, then?
If it were so simple, eight people wouldn't be arguing about it.
Isn't it justified, considering the moral laxity
of one of Spain's main banks?
Or the fact that it's supporting a murderous regime?
Are the half million dead reason enough?
Not to mention Alfaad, who's risking his neck to speak out.
Of course, it's fucking legal.
That's why it's newsworthy.
Javier, can they do it?
Stop guaranteeing our loan? Of course they can.
And cancel our credit line, too.
If you don't mind, I must leave.
I already had to push back two of my important meetings.
Isabel, if you walk out that door, you're fired.
This is the most important meeting you should be attending.
One more issue: they can sue us.
-Could they win? -I don't know.
But they would bleed us dry and remain unscathed.
I don't know, Víctor. We didn't need all the theatrics.
You could have called me and said, "No." That's all.
Let's go, Mónica.
Wait.
They wouldn't dare.
-Who "wouldn't dare"? -The Arana-Vélez family…
They won't attack us while everyone's watching:
the government, competitors. Plus, we're clients.
-No, Víctor-- -But…
We must go bigger, make more noise.
The bigger the story, the greater our protection and their implication.
-Víctor, what are you saying? -A front-page spread.
First, in the online issue,
then we'll bombard them as much as possible on TV.
We go all out.
Our article is the news.
We'll have a week about Syria.
Everyone will cover it, national and foreign media.
Our article is the news.
How are you going to justify something this absurd to the Board?
El Observador Nacional is the international standard
in good journalism.
A huge success for the Group in this new chapter.
Confidence,
expectations…
Shares will be up.
-This is something that we-- -Mauro, this is…
what's right.
Two witnesses said they saw a red SEAT Ibiza.
They don't know the model.
We're still awaiting results about the paint on the victim's leg.
A red SEAT in Madrid.
Roughly 50,000 were registered in the past ten years.
What about the letter?
The courier service doesn't remember the customer.
The signature was just a scribble, and they paid cash.
The confirmation email was sent from an Internet café without cameras.
Did Genovés say anything interesting about his associates?
No.
We questioned him all afternoon. He's just as puzzled as we are.
This is so absurd, Alfredo.
The inheritance surprised us all.
Some Board members aren't happy with him, but…
nothing fits this extortion.
The guy has an ex-wife and a ten-year-old son,
but they threaten him with killing strangers.
And he just received the inheritance.
Who'd think he'd give in to such far-fetched extortion?
It makes no sense.
Genovés doesn't seem like a guy who would ever consider paying up.
I don't blame him.
Would you?
If people are dying…
I'd think about it.
-At the very least. -Nobody would pay in this country.
-I'm telling you. -Well…
We have one advantage:
For the first time ever,
we're given the date and time of a murder, ten days in advance.
All right, if you need anything from Homicide, let me know.
Thank you Raúl, Tucho.
Get everything ready.
I'll get a team on this today.
All the pictures are of the massacre.
And…
No, wait.
On the last two pages, we'll put Alfaad's bio.
I'm still pissed about the "no comment" from Banco Industrial, but…
Okay…
Get the layout team to have it ready for the web.
Can we publish at nine?
Perfect.
At nine.
Okay.
Congratulations.
Fasten your seat belts, guys. The party's just starting.
You got it, Commissioner.
Thank you.
So, ten from Homicide, 18 from Anti-Terrorism and our people.
-Not bad. -Where were we?
We wanted eyes on at least that rooftop, right?
Right, and agents all over the square.
BANCO INDUSTRIAL DE MADRID FUNDED THE AL BAYDA MASSACRE
I already told you, "No".
I'm not asking for a raise, overtime pay, a contract or benefits, okay?
Just a fucking shift change, so I can go to my dance audition!
All right… I'll see what I can do.
Thanks.
You're welcome.
Tomorrow…
will be a busy day.
You should be with the lawyers.
Once your phone starts ringing, it won't stop.
Let's wait.
We'll see.
I suppose you're aware that…
this is probably my swan song.
You're overreacting.
-As usual. -No.
I don't have much credit left, Víctor.
It'll be fine, Luis.
Or I wouldn't have let you publish it.
Mónica Báez...
-She knows what she's doing, no? -Above all, she believes in it.
She's got guts.
Hey, how long has it been since you had a serious relationship?
If I had the time and mental capacity, I'd focus on my son.
I don't even know him anymore.
I should be with my wife.
You got divorced four years ago, when you got sober.
Exactly.
Balcony here.
Eva, go by the newsstand. Over.
Sky 1. Clear, over.
Sky 2. Clear here, too.
Sky 3 here. All clear.
We're keeping all eyes on Plaza de Oriente.
Sky 4. All clear here. Over.
Ground, any news?
This is Ground 7. Newsstand clear.
Approaching Vergara Street.
Ground 4 here.
Following a man with a long bag, heading north on Capuchinos. Over.
Ground 4 here. False alarm. Over.
...odd movement. I see a man on the roof of the closed cinema.
Possibly armed. I repeat: man on northeastern roof.
We can't see him from here. Anyone else have a visual?
Balcony here.
I confirm: man on rooftop.
Impossible to tell if he's armed. Over.
Sky 3 here. We can't see anyone from our position.
Sky 2 here. We have a visual of the man on the cinema roof.
I confirm he is armed.
-I repeat: He is armed. -Look, there he is.
Attention, all units. Regroup around the abandoned cinema.
Sky 2 here. Suspect in our sights.
Awaiting orders.
Hold your position. Do not fire. We want him alive.
Sky 2 here. He's loading the rifle.
I repeat: he's loading the rifle.
He's standing up. He's aiming at civilians.
Permission to shoot.
-I'll take him out. -Don't shoot to kill.
The suspect is fleeing. I repeat…
All units need to surround the building now!
Attention, all units.
Head to the old cinema. Let's go!
Down there!
Suspect on foot on Costanilla de los Ángeles.
-Got him. -Suspect in our sights.
Permission to fire. I repeat: permission to shoot.
Negative, do not shoot!
For fuck's sake!
-Freeze! -Stop! National Police!
-Stop! -Police! Hands in the air.
-On the ground, now! -On the ground!
Look out, explosives!
Gun!
-Good afternoon. -Mr. Genovés.
I think I'll buy the paper today.
Good, Juan. That's the point.
…police operation concluded
and the alleged terrorist was killed in the shootout.
Banco Industrial de Madrid has yet to release a statement
about allegedly selling weapons to the Syrian government,
as reported last night in a surprising article
by El Observador Nacional online.
Nevertheless, the news spread quickly.
Wait in the car, Diego.
Detective.
You could've come upstairs.
I'm fine here, thanks.
It looks like the lunatic was killed.
Not exactly, Mr. Genovés.
Yes, the man is dead.
But it wasn't what we expected, at all.
In any case, the fact is there was another victim,
at the time and place The Minions of Midas had stated.
What do you mean, "victim"?
Who was that man?
His name was Manuel Corona.
Over the past few years, he opened a couple restaurants
that got shut down due to the crisis.
He had recently been drowning in debt, and, suddenly…
less than a week ago,
he paid off all his debt.
His wife and children disappeared a few days ago, too.
No sign of them.
Wasn't he armed? Didn't he shoot at the police?
Yes, he was armed…
But the bullets were blanks.
Nevertheless, he fired at us.
Of course, the investigation is ongoing, but everything suggests
that Mr. Corona gave his family a new life
and paid for it by committing suicide.
He appeared at Plaza de Ópera and made sure he wouldn't get out alive.
He had this letter on him.
For obvious reasons, this isn't the original.
You should read it. It was addressed to you.
I have to go, Mr. Genovés.
A dozen more agents are joining the investigation today.
I'm sorry to say this is only the beginning.
Read it.
"Dear Mr. Genovés,
We deeply regret learning
that you decided to involve the police in our relationship
and increase your private security costs.
You misjudge us.
Soon you will realize your life is valuable to us.
We would never hurt you or your loved ones
for a very simple reason:
Your gain is our gain.
Think about it, Mr. Genovés.
After you pay us, you will need the money you are now wasting.
Your second victim was slain on the expected date.
We are in no hurry but, in order to better persuade you,
going forward, we will kill someone every five days.
Since you ultimately decided to involve the police,
you'll only learn the location a few minutes earlier or as it happens.
Our warmest regards,
The Minions of Midas"