- Los Angeles, 1938. Detectives Tiago Vega and Lewis Michener investigate a murder. Tiago's brother Raul battles Councilman Charlton Townsend over California's first freeway. Tiago's mother Maria pleads with Santa Muerte.
- Los Angeles, 1938. LAPD detective Tiago Vega and his partner, Lewis Michener, investigate a murder. While at City Hall, Tiago's activist brother Raul Vega battles with the fiery Councilman Charlton Townsend over the construction of California's first freeway. Meanwhile, Peter Craft, the head of the German-American Bund, meets Elsa, the mysterious mother of one of his patients. Sensing danger, Tiago's mother Maria pleads with Santa Muerte to protect her family as the rising tensions in the city threaten to explode.—SHOWTIME
- In a field in the early 1920s, migrant workers are harvesting the crop. Nearby, one woman stares at another and the woman, Santa Muerte, tells the second woman, Magda, to leave a nearby boy alone. . Magda asks Santa Muerte why she troubles herself with any of the humans when all they are, are frightened animals in the mud scratching for more mud. Magda offers to prove the humans aren't worth Santa Muerte's devotion and d care, and says that she will do by making her dreams come true and whisper to them. She insists that mankind will become monsters just by being told that they can, and asks if Santa Muerte will try to stop her. Santa Muerte tells Magda that she has no heart for the living, and Magda promises to give her many souls.
Magda walks into the field, fire spreading behind her and setting the field afire. The workers panic and run, and some are trapped and burn. The boy, Tiago Vega, watches from the truck and sees his father burn. Another man stops Tiago from going to his father, and Magda watches the father burn. Santa Muerte holds the corpse in her arms, and Tiago tears loose and runs to his dead father. As Tiago approaches, Santa Muerte holds up her hand and pushes Tiago back with an invisible force. When he recovers, he stares at Santa Muerte.
In 1938r, a now-adult Tiago receives a birthday cake from his mother, Maria. They go to a table and Tiago's younger brother, Mateo, sample some of the frosting. Maria mildly protests, saying it isn't Mateo's night, and Tiago blows out the candles. Everyone who has come to the party applauds, Mateo and his mother and Tiago's sister, Josefina, asks Tiago to show them his new police badge and he does. Josefina tells Tiago that she's proud of him and they hug.
Tiago then tells Maria that the badge is as much hers as his and thanks her. She says that she's proud of him. Raul Vega, Tiago's brother, comes over and sarcastically congratulates Tiago, Maria tells Raul that Tiago made a life and he should respect that. Raul congratulates Tiago for real and invites him to have a drink with him. He then has everyone join in as he makes a toast to Tiago.
Later, Tiago walks Maria to his bus stop and says that he has a good partner. He worries that he's first Chicago police detective, and Maria assures him that he earned his badge. Her son warns that it's not how the other detectives see it, and Maria tells him to wear his badge proudly. They look at the construction harvesting machines nearby and Tiago warns that they can't stop progress. Maria points out that Raul is going to the city council, and they already have an injunction to stop the construction of the freeway. Tiago doesn't believe it will do any good eventually, and Maria tells Tiago that his father sees him and is proud.
Tiago catches his bus and goes downtown to his apartment. He undresses and pulls down his Murphy bed, and goes to bed. The next morning, Tiago's phone ring and his partner Lewis Michener tells him that they have some butchery down the river and Tiago should join him. When Tiago points out that he doesn't start until Monday, Lewis tells him that he start in 15 minutes.
Tiago dresses and goes out, and Lewis is waiting for him and says that he doesn't know why they were chosen. The watch commander, Ned Vanderhoff, personally called Lewis in on the case. They drive down to the river where police officers have secured the crime scene. When the two detectives get out, an officer takes them over to the body. One of the bodies body has skull makeup on its face, and has been badly cut up. There are three other bodies, all four laying in a pattern feet to feet, all naked and with similar makeup. Tiago examines the bodies and suggests that the killer used a knife or an axe
The officer says that there's one thing more, and shows them words written on the causeway wall in blood. Tiago translates it "You take our heart, we take yours." Lewis figures that it's a "spic thing" and that's why they were called in. Tiago goes back to the bodies and examines the first one, and confirms that the killer took the hearts.
Maria takes a bus to the home of Peter Craft. He greets Maria when she comes in, and Peter's two boys Trevor and Tom greet their "mama". Peter's wife Linda comes in and asks Maria if she brought the laundry. Once Maria says that she did, Linda joins her family at the kitchen table and complains about the noise from the radio. Peter turns it down, and he tells his sons not to play it too loud as he leaves. Before he goes, Peter talks to Maria privately and tells her to make sure Linda doesn't drink any alcohol and if she does, Maria should let Peter know. Maria agrees and Peter tells her to come to him if her children become sick. Peter drives downtown, practicing his English lessons.
At the station locker room, one of the officers, Jimmy Reilly, call Tiago "Poncho" and mocks him. Lewis tells Reilly that Tiago is a detective, and they curse at each other. Tiago tells Lewis to leave it, but Lewis blackmails Reilly, threatening to tell people about Reilly's girl in Sonora. Reilly backs off, claiming he was joking, and Tiago tells Lewis that he can speak for himself. Lewis tells him to do so.
Tiago and Lewis go to the office of Vanderhoff, who is looking at photos of the corpses. He tells the detectives a maid called in four missing person, and identifies the bodies. The dead family are the Haslets from Beverly Hills, and Vanderhoff warns that if word gets out that a rich white family were killed by Mexicans, they're looking at a race war. Tiago points out that they don't know that Mexicans killed the Haslets, but Vanderhoff isn't convinced given the Spanish writing. Lewis suggests that its pachucos and says that they'll check the gang's house.
At his doctor's office, Peter checks a boy, Frank Branson, and his Germanic mother Elsa -Magda in a different female form--says that Frank is suffering. Peter assures her that he's seen the condition before and assures Mrs. Branson that there's no cause for panic. Once Frank goes back to the waiting room, Peter assures Elsa that Frank's asthma easily treatable. The woman says that her husband has not patience and breaks into tears, and Peter offers her a handkerchief. Peter asks if Frank is subject to special tensions that might have brought on his asthma, and Mrs. Branson asks where Peter is from. The doctor says that he's from Essen, and she says that she's from Berlin, but now she's in Boyle Heights with the Jews.
Peter admits that it's difficult for them in America, and Mrs. Branson says that her husband is a typical American and curious about nothing and knows nothing. She continues crying, and Peter asks if her husband hurts her or Frank. He takes Mrs. Branson's hand and she says that he's kind, and if they had met in Essen things might have been different. Peter quickly withdraws his hand and tells her to bring Frank back in a wee so he can start a series of allergy tests on Frank. Mrs. Branson agrees and leaves,
In the elevator going down, Elsa and Frank turn to face each other. Elsa bares her stomach and pulls Frank's head to it. "Frank" merges into Elsa's body, disappearing,
Peter tells his nurse Laura that he's going out for lunch. Once he's alone, Peter looks at the Nazi uniform hidden in his closet and smile.
At the city hall, the council meets and Councilman Charlton Townsend has the reporter ejected. He then announces that the transportation committee has recommended the construction of the Arroyo Seco Motorway going forward, the city council has approved the recommendation, and the municipal court has overruled the injunction. Townsend says that construction will continue on Monday as planned, and he calls on any member of the public who wishes to oppose the vote to speak.
Raul stands up, introduces himself, and Townsend tells him to keep his remarks short. When Raul asks Townsend where they're supposed to go when the motorway destroys their community and their livelihood, Townsend tells him to go back where he came from. Raul points out that he was born in LA, same as Townsend, and Townsend tells him that he can't stand in the way of progress. When Raul says that they will not move, Townsend tells him that he and his community will be pushed. Raul warns that any blood will be on Townsend's hands, and they will fight for their home as any good Americans have always done.
The other members of the Mexican community stand up and pound on the wooden benches in solidarity, then began chanting. Townsend orders the officers to clear the chamber, and Raul and the others are beaten and hauled away.
Later in the hallway, Townsend tells his assistant Alex--Magda in another form-that they can't be weak with the Mexicans. When he casually uses racial slurs, Alex tells him to ease off on the language so as to not give the press any ammunition. She tells Townsend that he was a strong man, and Townsend admires Mussolini and Hitler as other strong men. Alex massages Townsend's shoulders and tells him that he's already won, and he should afterward build another motorway through the black community. When Townsend wonders where the motorway is going, Alex tells him that it doesn't matter. She then says that Townsend has a special meeting that she scheduled for him that afternoon.
Outside the station as they eat lunch, Tiago asks Lewis while he took him as a partner. Lewis tells him that no one else wanted him, and then asks Tiago why he never wears a hat. Tiago says that he wants everyone to know he's Chicago, and says that the painting on the faces was Day of the Dead makeup, in honor of Santa Muerte. Lewis figures that it's Mexicans for sure, but Tiago says that they don't know for sure and he'll talk to Maria, who knows all about Santa Muerte because Maria thinks that she's a witch.
The German-American Bun march through a nearby park, Peter among them in his uniform. They stop and Peter greets his fellow Americans, introduces himself, and says that he would do anything to keep his boys safe. Peter says that America has a duty to not get involved in other countries' fights. He asks why America should throw its children into European wars, and suggests that they enjoy their lives in America and leave the old countries to themselves. Lewis, watching, tells Tiago that they should go. The two detectives drive off as people applaud Peter's speech.
The detectives drive to the Haslet house and the one officer watching over the house lets them in. There is a religious painting on the wall, and Lewis turns on the radio to the last station it was playing, where to Sister Molly giving a religious broadcast. After a moment, Lewis turns off the radio and pours himself a drink from the Haslets' bar, and dismisses Molly and her kind as "cultists".
Splitting up, the detectives search the house for blood. Lewis finds white-and-gold church robes, and Tiago finds a diorama of the Arroyo Seco Motorway. Lewis joins him and they compare notes. Neither one found blood or signs of forced entry, and Lewis reports that Haslet was an elder in the church. The diorama shows that Haslet's company was building the motorway, and figures the murders were in response to it.
Townsend and Alex drive out on a stretch of empty road and Richard Goss pulls up. He introduces himself, noting that he's a member of the building-architecture firm, Goss and Ossenberg. Goss says that his firm is doing some work on the Reich Chancellery on Hitler's behalf, as well as the Autobahn. Townsend figure that they want to build motorways in the U.S., and points out that they can't hire foreign companies because of national security concerns. Goss says that that they want to make Townsends the mayor of LA because they believe they can work with him.
When Townsend points out that he's only one member of the city council, Alex notes that if they keep the transportation committee in the public idea, Townsend will have a higher profile. In return for his help, Goss wants a sympathetic ear toward his company working on the motorway. They believe that LA is the future of America and Hitler dreams of it.
Goss says that on orders from Berlin, he measured streets seeing which one would support a victory parade. He boasts of how German have infiltrated all levels of government and Hollywood. Townsend suggests that he might go to the BFI, and Goss says his driver is Gestapo and he has orders to kill Townsend if their conversation doesn't end in a handshake. Townsend insists that he won't betray his country, and Goss casually says that of course Townsend will. He leaves after calling Townsend "Your Honor", and as they shake Goss emphatically says "Heil Hitler" and gives a Nazi salute.
That night at the record where he works, Mateo sees Josefina and a boy kissing. Mateo goes over, angrily shoves the boy away, and tells him to get out. Maria arrives and orders Josefina to go inside, and then slaps Mateo and tells him that he was raised for better than fighting in the street. She tells him that there's more, but Mateo doesn't believe it and says that there is no more. Maria insists that it's America and Mateo tells her that if she keeps dreaming, Santa Muerte might make them come true. For the rest of them, no one wants a "Spic".
Mateo goes back inside, and Tiago walks up and kisses Maria on the cheek. He asks if she has a minute, and as they walk Tiago asks if she's heard anything from Santa Muerte. Tiago asks if there's been some kind of curse, and Maria insists that Santa Muerte is a holy angel that doesn't curse but guides people peacefully to heaven. The detective points out that Santa Muerte didn't guide his father peacefully. She says that he's too young to remember and asks what he wants, and Tiago tells her that there's been some trouble and it looks like Mexicans were involved. He asks Maria to keep an eye out for Black Masses, and Maria says that he doesn't believe in the religion written on his own skin after Santa Muerte marked him. Tiago doesn't want to discuss it, and Maria walks away in disgust. After a moment she comes back and agrees to do what she can, but tells Tiago that he might need Santa Muerte someday and then what he will do with an angel he doesn't believe in.
Tiago and Maria go back to the music store and dance on the street as the locals look on and clap in rhythm with the music. Later, Raul tells Tiago what happened between Mateo and Josefina. Mateo comes out and Raul tells him that Mateo probably felt up girls in high school. He sits down and drinks with Tiago and Raul, and Tiago offers to get Mateo tickets to a baseball game on the Monday that the motorway construction restarts. Raul tells Tiago that he should be there, and Tiago says that is it. His brother tells him that the construction machines are in an empty lot, and the locals will be ready when Tiago warns him that they're calling police from other precincts to protect the construction.
Raul figures that they're being deported is the next step, but Tiago doesn't believe it. His brother tells him to go to the baseball game instead of fucking his people one more time, and Tiago warns him that if they go against the cops, they'll be shot down like animals because that's what the cops consider Mexicans. Raul asks Tiago where his heart is, and Tiago walks away without a word after telling Mateo that he should consider going to the game.
The next morning, Lewis is working his darkroom and develops a photo of Goss, and then pins it to a board he has set up with a map of LA. On the board are dozens of photos and Nazi brochures pinned as well. Tiago arrives, knocks at the door, and when Lewis answers it, Tiago says that he's not going the next day. Lewis says that the captain said they all had to be there, and tells him to decide whether he's a cowboy or an Indian. Tiago walks off without a word.
That night, Maria in her house praying at a shrine to Santa Muerte. The candles blow out and Maria falls to the floor, and Santa Muerte steps from the shadows. She asks why Maria wakes her, and Maria tells the goddess that she needs her help because there is evil walking the land. San Muerte tells her that she will only come to Maria if she is dying, and says that she will see her in her final moment. Maria begs her for help, and Santa Muerte tells Maria of a prophecy that a time will come when nation will battle nation, and race will devour race, until not a soul is left. Maria asks if the time is now, and Santa Muerte tells her that there is too much agony for her to have heart to care for man. Maria asks if the time now and they have to do something, and there is a great battle coming that they need Santa Muerte's help. When Maria mentions Magda, Santa Muerte's bitch of a sister, Santa Muerte snarls at her and then disappears.
Later, Maria goes to Tiago's apartment and tells him that he has to be at the protest. She explains that Santa Muerte has chosen him, and maybe he can save himself. If he isn't there, it all ends in blood or fire.
The next morning, the Mexicans and the police face each other at the construction site. Tiago arrives and stands with Lewis, who says that he's glad Tiago is there. Mateo is with Raul, who sees Tiago with the police. Vanderhoff tells the Mexicans to disperse or be arrested. The Mexicans don't move, and Vanderhoff walks off. Magda arrives, unseen by the mortals.
Lewis tells Tiago that he's never fired his gun while on the job. Tiago gives his gun to Lewis and starts to go the Mexican side, and Lewis tells him not to do it. Meanwhile, Tiago raises his hands and steps out on the street. He tells the Mexicans that they know he grew up there, and they need to go home because they can't stop the construction from proceeding.
Magda finds one nervous young officer and whispers in his ear. Tiago turns and goes back to the police line, Raul yelling at him in anger. When he advances on Tiago, the officer shoots into the Mexicans and hits a man in the chest. The Mexicans charge forward and the other officers open fire. The two sides fight, beating at each other, and Tiago and Lewis take cover behind cars.
Mateo leads Josefina to safety, and Raul joins them. Lewis pulls a wounded officer to cover, and another officer fires tear gas into the crowd. Magda whispers to Raul, and Raul walks back into the melee, picks up a gun, and shoots policemen. Tiago sees him, and Raul shoots Lewis in the shoulder. Mateo yells to Raul, and Tiago runs to his brother as he prepares to finish off Lewis. Tiago draws his gun and shoots, and Raul drops to the street. Going to his brother, Tiago looks down at his kin. Unseen, Magda and Santa Muerte stand and look at each other from opposing sides.
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What is the broadcast (satellite or terrestrial TV) release date of Santa Muerte (2020) in Japan?
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