AVI BOAZ BOGDAN CHICHO DMITRI FRANKIE GEORGE HITMAN_3 JAMES JUDGE_CECIL KELLY_ANNE LUCIEN MALE_BODYGUARD MARCEL MARCO OKSANA PEOPLE_AT_BAR PEOPLE_IN_POLANCO_SHOP PEOPLE_ON_STREET POLANCO POLICE_OFFICERS_ON_RADIO POTE RESTRAINED_MAN_IN_WAREHOUSE RONNIE SHORTY TERESA WHEELER


TERESA
Previously on Queen of the South...
KELLY ANNE
You are the kindest, sweetest man I've ever met.
WHEELER
You deliver thirty million and New Orleans will have herself a new correctional facility.

TERESA
Marcel isn't answering.
TERESA
We need to find him before Lafayette does.
KELLY ANNE
Why would the Judge wanna frame Dumas?

LUCIEN
Good to see you, Marcel.
MARCEL
Lucien, this woman is a major player. Together, we got a shot.

LUCIEN
I thought I taught you better than that boy. After all these years, you're just gonna topple the Judge?
BOAZ
You handed over my primo to a la hijo de puta juez. 

BOAZ
I want his head.
TERESA
He killed my godson. If I can wait, so can you.
KELLY ANNE
There's been a second offer on the waterfront property. The realtor just gave us forty-eight hours to counter.
TERESA
Did Epifanio ever work with anyone in New York? Someone who could handle this kind of weight.
POLANCO
I can handle the weight. Can you handle the heat that will come down from the Russians?

OKSANA
You jeopardized your business with my cousin.
TERESA
It's time for me to meet him face to face.
HITMAN 3

GEORGE
I've seen these tatts before.

GEORGE
We've got a serious problem, Teresa. The Russians.
TERESA
Pote, turn around.
TERESA
Gracias, Louis.

TERESA
How did you find these men so fast?
POTE
James. They're ex-Mossads. The Russians have an army. You do too now.
AVI
I'm Avi, ma'am. Follow me, please.
AVI
I set up twenty-four-hour patrol on premises. I personally vetted every man on my staff. You're in very good hands.

TERESA
Thank you.
AVI
Ma'am.
TERESA
Oksana wants to know what happened in New York.
POTE
Maybe you should give her a call. Silence make people nervous.
TERESA
Not until I talk to James.
TERESA
Who are they?
JAMES
Ex-FSB. Russian military. The question is, who are they working for now?

POTE
Must be Kostya. Who else?
KELLY ANNE
Hey, sorry to interrupt. The agent just called and wants to know if we're still gonna make a counteroffer on the waterfront.
TERESA
Have you spoken to the banker?
KELLY ANNE
Yeah, she set up the account, but we're still a hundred million short of the down payment.
POTE
Why didn't she just give us the loan for the rest of the money?
KELLY ANNE
Well, 'cause that's not how money laundering works. We send her money, and she gives it back to us in a loan.

TERESA
If we want the down payment, we need to get her the cash.
POTE
Bankers are pinche banditos.
KELLY ANNE
Yeah. So, Kostya's already paid us. If we're not gonna send him a second shipment, how are we gonna come up with an extra hundred million dollars in one day?
TERESA

RESTRAINED MAN IN WAREHOUSE

OKSANA
Teresa, you stood Kostya up. After I pushed for your meeting. Do you know the position that you put me in?

OKSANA
What is this?
TERESA
These men came to kill me. Do you recognize them?
TERESA
I can tell by your silence you do.
OKSANA
Teresa, I-I don't--
TERESA
Are you coming after me?

OKSANA
I'm sure there is an explanation.
TERESA
I don't need an explanation. Tell Kostya we're no longer in business.
POTE
It doesn't make any sense. Kostya was happy with our first shipment.
KELLY ANNE
Maybe Oksana's telling the truth. I mean, she sounds as surprised as we were.
JAMES
Look, she's either setting you up, or Kostya's makin' a move and not telling her.

POTE
Hmm. It's George. Kostya's next load is on the truck. What do you wanna do, Teresita? You wanna keep it here or send it to Miami to Boaz?

TERESA
Send it to the Dominicans.
JAMES
To Kostya's competition?
TERESA
We can't lose the waterfront. Kostya had his chance. I'm done playing games.
POTE
We're gonna need more Mossad.
TERESA
How are you feeling?
JAMES
Not bad, considering.
TERESA
I want to thank you. You risked your life by coming back. You didn't have to.
JAMES
Yeah, I did.
TERESA
So, what are your plans?
JAMES
I figured I'd start by checkin' out the security system.
TERESA
That's not what I meant. A-Are you staying?
JAMES
Do you want me to stay?
TERESA
You've done enough. I can't ask for more.
JAMES
You didn't ask. And this is different. These Russians, they're animals.

TERESA
Yeah.
JAMES

TERESA
You should go.
JAMES
Okay. I'll pack my bag.
TERESA
Take care of yourself.
JAMES
You too.
CHICHO
Jefa, we have a problem at the bar. It's the Judge.

JAMES

JUDGE CECIL
I'm here for Dumas.
TERESA
I haven't seen him. You told me to keep my distance.

JUDGE CECIL
Well, I've changed my mind. Dumas trusts you. You can draw him out.

TERESA
And why would I do that?
JUDGE CECIL
You bring me Dumas or you'll be the next Mexican I set on fire.
POTE
It's time for him to go, Teresita.

KELLY ANNE
Pote's right. He's reckless. He's gonna try and hurt us however he can.
POTE
I have a nice plastic sheet waiting for him.

TERESA
Not yet. First, I want to take away his power. Expose how corrupt he is. Destroy him.
POTE
Then we kill him.
TERESA
Where are we on tracking his money?
POTE
I thought we stopped paying him after he kidnapped Oksana.
KELLY ANNE
Mm, we did. And then two months ago, he hit us up for thirty million. He said it was a one-time fee but Teresa figured maybe he needed it for something specific, so I hid a few traceable hundred dollar bills in the Judge's cash. It's how banks catch robbers.

POTE
That's smart. So, we find out where the money goes, then we know who the Judge paid off.
KELLY ANNE
We got him by the cojones.

KELLY ANNE
I'll call our banker.
TERESA
I need to talk to Marcel, make sure he knows we're on the same side.
POTE
He's gone underground, Teresita. We haven't been able to reach him.

TERESA
I need to get him a message.
TERESA
I know you're in contact with Marcel. I would like to speak with him.
LUCIEN
Are you here for you? Or Lafayette?
TERESA
I'm here for me.
LUCIEN
But he's pressuring you, right? His boys can't get my people to rat out Marcel so you're his proxy.
TERESA
I'm only here to help him.
LUCIEN
You gave up your own man to the Judge. They burned him alive. How do I know you won't do the same to Marcel?
POTE
You better watch yourself, cabrón.

LUCIEN
Marcel grew up at my knee. I taught him everything that he knows but when you started whispering in his ear, he forgot his own history.
TERESA
He was tired of being under Lafayette's thumb.

LUCIEN
Lafayette always wins in this town.
TERESA
Which is why you are here. And Marcel is not.
LUCIEN
If I didn't know better, I'd think you're calling me an Uncle Tom.

TERESA
Please give him my message. Thank you.
POTE

POTE
Where you going, cabrón?
JAMES
I got places to be, Pote.
POTE
First, you have a tequila with me. I never thanked you for sparing Kelly Anne. Muchas gracias.

POTE
Salud.

JAMES
Salud. Teresa must have been pissed we disobeyed her order.
POTE
I took some heat. But then, some sicarios came after Tony.

JAMES
You're kidding.
POTE
Long story. But Kelly Anne saved his life. So, Teresa let her stay.
JAMES
And then what happened to him?
POTE
I dropped my guard. Thought that we can be like normal people.

JAMES
Sorry. You two were close.
POTE
Tony became like a son to me. He was a good boy. Un corazon puro. But this world is not for a child. They make you weak and vulnerable. I promise you, never again. After I lost Tony, everything changed. So, what you gonna do now?
JAMES
Just get lost for a while. Get these hands clean, you know?

POTE
Hmm? You risked your life to be here and you're gonna leave just like that?
JAMES
She doesn't want me to stay.
POTE
She might not want you to stay, cabrón, but she needs you.
PEOPLE IN POLANCO SHOP

POLANCO
Man, I'm all done, Shorty. Hey, how's school going, man?

SHORTY
Good.
POLANCO
Yeah? Getting them good grades?
SHORTY
Mm.
SHORTY
Yeah.
POLANCO
Good man. Good man.
FRANKIE
Que pasa, Conejo?
POLANCO
Hey.
FRANKIE

POLANCO
Hey, Cerebrito!
POLANCO
Hey, Shorty, this is Frankie. I started cutting his hair when he was about your size. And now, he's on the Dean's List at Rutgers.

FRANKIE
Mm-hmm.
SHORTY
Cool!

POLANCO
Yeah, yeah. You study hard, you could be like him. Now get on home, man.
SHORTY
Thanks, man.
POLANCO
Straight home.
POLANCO
Now jump on the chair, let me tighten you up for the ladies. I don't know who you been seein', bro, but they ain't doin' you right, man. It's an embarrassment, man.

TERESA
Polanco.
POLANCO
Yeah, everything is set with the banker.
TERESA
Good. You'll get the truck soon. Listen, we could have problems with the Russians.
POLANCO
Hey, you let me worry about that, okay? You just keep those trucks coming.
TERESA
We'll talk soon.
POTE
Now that Polanco's on board, we have the extra cash to make an offer on the waterfront.

TERESA
Yeah.
BOGDAN

DMITRI
Your mother.
BOGDAN
Welcome to New Orleans, boss.
OKSANA
You're hard to find, Bogdan.

BOGDAN
We've been working. Kostya sent us to watch the Mexican woman.
OKSANA
Da. A week ago. Hmm? You on vacation, Bogdan? Getting shitfaced on Kostya's time?

OKSANA
Relax, Bogdan. It's good you're still in town. We have problem with our Mexican friend.
BOGDAN
What kind of problem?
OKSANA
She's selling to Dominicans.
OKSANA
Kostya wants blood.

TERESA
So, our banker came through?

KELLY ANNE
Had to twist her arm a little bit, but, yeah, she found our guy. His name is Gordon Wheeler and he's the chairman of a dozen prisons scattered throughout the south.
POTE
Why would Wheeler launder thirty mill for Lafayette?

TERESA
He's not laundering it. He's investing it. Lafayette sends people to prison. Why not his own?
KELLY ANNE
Yeah. State pays up to sixty thousand per inmate a year.
POTE
That can't be legal.
KELLY ANNE
It's not.
TERESA
You need to find Wheeler and get the proof. That's how we finish him.
KELLY ANNE
Okay.
TERESA
Thank you.
POTE

TERESA
What is it?
POTE
I called Miami. Boaz hasn't shown. You want me to find him?
TERESA
No. I'll deal with Boaz. Stay on Lafayette.
POTE

PEOPLE AT BAR

BOAZ
Tequila!
MARCO
Teresa protected that Russian bitch over our own blood. She gave Javier to that Judge Not to mention, you do all the work...

BOAZ
I don't need you all up in my ear with that shit. Dejame en paz.

MARCO
Orale, pues. I guess if you won't do it,
BOAZ
You ain't gonna do shit. Teresa may be the boss of this cartel, but I'm still the boss of this family. Entiendes?
JAMES
Hey, if you move this camera twenty degrees, you'll cover all lanes of fire.
CHICHO
Okay. I'll take of it.
TERESA
You're still here.
JAMES
Yeah, I decided to have a look at your security system before I take off.

TERESA
Thank you. It's Oksana.
TERESA
Yes.
OKSANA
I'm in New Orleans. I have something to show you. It'll explain everything. Text you the address?
TERESA
She wants to meet in a motel in the Ninth Ward.
JAMES
You know what I think.
TERESA
I want to hear what she has to say.
JAMES
Fine. But do it my way.
TERESA
Okay.
TERESA
Hey.
JAMES
We're locked down. There's no surprises. Except what's behind that door.
OKSANA
It is fine. He's been paid.
TERESA
Why are we here?
OKSANA
When the Judge kidnapped me, Kostya knew nothing about you. He was unsure you would save my life. He sent his men to New Orleans in case they had to intervene. But there was something about them that he didn't know.
TERESA
What?
OKSANA
These men were traitors, plotting against my cousin. Once you saved me, they targeted you. They knew that losing your cocaine would make Kostya vulnerable.
TERESA
You didn't answer my question.
JAMES
Back up.
JAMES
Christ.

DMITRI

OKSANA
Thanks to you, Teresa, we found the cancer in my family. And removed it.

JAMES
What the hell was that?
OKSANA
Dimitri was the last traitor in the sleeper cell that betrayed Kostya. My cousin is sorry, Teresa. He put you in the middle of family conflict. And he will do whatever it takes to make amends.
JAMES
Forget it. We're done here.
TERESA
You need to buy an extra shipment.
JAMES
The Russians love psychological warfare. They spread chaos to confuse you, to take your eye off what matters. Killing her men in front of you, it's just a mind game.

TERESA
That's why we're selling to the Dominicans. I want to make sure we're covered if we can't trust the Russians.
JAMES
You think she's lying to you?
TERESA
I don't know, but we need to continue our business until we find out. Oscar.
POLANCO
The Russians shot up my shop. They hit two of my men.
POLICE OFFICERS ON RADIO

TERESA
When?
POLANCO
I don't know when! I want them dead. Okay? to all their corners. Coney Island, Little Odessa, you name it.

TERESA
You're playing into his hands.

POLANCO
Good. Good, 'cause he's getting what's coming to him.
TERESA
Hitting them back will cost you even more. I'm coming to New York. I'll fix this.
JAMES
Kostya started a war with the Dominicans.
TERESA
Yes.
KELLY ANNE
Hello, Mr. Wheeler. Thank you so much for meetin' with me. I got your number from Cecil Lafayette.
WHEELER
It's Gordon. Any friend of the Judge is a friend of mine.
WHEELER
If I remember our call, your client is interested in a discrete investment.
KELLY ANNE
She is. Though you're already in business with her. You took thirty million of her money from the Judge to build your prison by the rail yards.
WHEELER
Come again?

KELLY ANNE
So, we'll pay you thirty million more to help us expose the Judge's corruption. In cash or wired offshore, whichever you prefer.
WHEELER
You're either the dumbest Fed I've ever met, or the ballsiest woman on the planet.

KELLY ANNE
Well, I'm not a Fed.
WHEELER
Well, either way, we're done here.
KELLY ANNE
Okay, just real quick, how do you think Lafayette got thirty million dollars in a day? What kind of people do you think have access to that kind of cash? We don't want you, Gordon. We want Lafayette. All we need is proof of his involvement in, like, a land title or articles of incorporation.
WHEELER
I heard you out. So now you hear me. You can tell whoever it is that you work for to stick their money up their ass. Ronnie! Get in here!

RONNIE

KELLY ANNE
Last chance, Gordon. I'd take the money.
WHEELER
Go to hell.

POTE
Wrong answer, cabrón.
CHICHO
Morning, jefa. Your jet is ready.

TERESA
Thank you, Chicho.
JAMES
I'm gonna come with you. Pote's not here. You need some security.
TERESA
You're still hurt.
JAMES
I'm a quick healer. And I'm already packed.
WHEELER

POTE
Talk, cabrón.
POTE
Talk.
POTE
Fuck. That old bird is tough.

KELLY ANNE
Maybe he's more afraid of the Judge than he is of us.
POTE
His mistake.
RONNIE
You dumb bitch. You don't know who you're messing with.
POTE
No? Who? Huh?
RONNIE
He knows the head of the FBI, the DEA. Which means your ass is toast, motherf-- 

POTE
Where are your friends now, cabrón?
POTE
Kelly Anne, are you okay?
KELLY ANNE
Yeah, I'm okay.
POTE
Maybe you should go outside and get some air.
KELLY ANNE
I'm fine. Keep going.
POTE
You heard the lady. Talk.
POTE
The next one's in your skull, cabrón.
WHEELER
Zip drive in my safe! Forty-seven, nineteen, sixty-six.

OKSANA
Teresa, I assume you want to discuss the situation with the Dominicans?
TERESA
I made Kostya no promises. I can sell to whoever I want.
OKSANA
Of course. But now, this is turf war.

TERESA
War is expensive. For everyone.
OKSANA
Then what if you sold exclusively to us? Say, thirty thousand a kilo?

TERESA
No.
OKSANA
You've already made that offer to Kostya.
TERESA
We only get to stay in business if there's no war. If Kostya kills another Dominican, I'll only supply Polanco.
OKSANA
With my cousin, that would definitely mean war.
TERESA
Then there will be a war. But if he wants to hear my plan, he should come to my hotel tonight.
OKSANA
Why didn't you ask for my advice, Teresa? We could've prevented this mess.
TERESA
Because I don't need your advice. And I know how to run my business. Let me know.
TERESA
Gracias, Chicho.
KELLY ANNE
Who are these boys?
WHEELER
Boys the Judge sent to juvie. We paid 'em five grand a case. State paid us forty-five thousand a year to lock 'em up. He gave 'em maximum sentences.

KELLY ANNE
Yeah. So, you could make maximum money. Y'all been doing this for decades so you and Lafayette have made millions off these kids.

WHEELER
They're no angels.
POTE
They're poor. They never had a chance.
WHEELER
I didn't make the system.
POTE
But you got rich out of it!
WHEELER
Oh, you said you only wanted the Judge.
POTE
I changed my mind, pendejo. I'll see you in hell.

JAMES
Do you think Oksana will call?
TERESA
If she doesn't, Polanco will go to war with Kostya.
JAMES
Why didn't you accept his offer? You get the money you need, avoid a war you can't win.
TERESA
We need competition. Kostya wants to be my only customer. It gives him leverage. He can set his own price.
JAMES
That's why you're selling to Polanco?
TERESA
With the Dominicans, we have a free market.
JAMES
Pote warned me that you changed.
TERESA
It's the only way to survive in this life.
JAMES
Amen. Is that why you're pushing hard for New York? You already supply Phoenix, New Orleans, Atlanta, Miami. Isn't that enough money?

TERESA
It's not about the money. It's what money can buy. Safety.
JAMES
But you're not safer now. You're in business with Russian psychopaths.
TERESA
When have I not been in business with psychopaths?
JAMES
Right.
TERESA
Selling to the Dominicans and the Russians will double the profit and cut the timeline in half.
JAMES
Your waterfront project.
TERESA
It'll bring jobs to New Orleans. Which means political support. Once we start, we can borrow against it, get investors.
JAMES
You wanna go legit.

TERESA
You think I'm crazy.
JAMES
Smart. That's the only way to get to a place where people can't touch you or who you love. You deserve that.

TERESA
He's on his way.
TERESA
Where's Kostya?
OKSANA
Are you kidding me with this, Teresa? This is not how he does business. But he will be with us.

TERESA
We're here because I have the best product and you control the world's largest market. Together, we can control the supply and the demand. Which means we can set the price and double our business. But a war will kill everything. So, I have a proposal.
TERESA
Thank you. As you know, these are the five boroughs of New York. We will divide the city and make clear boundaries. Kostya will keep Brooklyn and the lowest part of Manhattan. Everything below Fourteenth Street.

POLANCO
They get the Village, Soho, and Wall Street? 

TERESA
You'll get the micro-markets in midtown. The nightclubs in Hell's Kitchen and the hotels in Times Square. Plus, the rest of Manhattan and the Bronx.

OKSANA
Whoa! That's two thirds of New York. We get Queens, yes?

POLANCO
No, you split it. Polanco gets LaGuardia. Kostya gets JFK.

OKSANA
That is not equal, Teresa.
POLANCO
No, I don't think I'd agree with that.
TERESA
Both of you will charge the same price per kilo. And if either of you undercuts the price, or sells in territory that isn't theirs, I'll cut them off.

POLANCO
Fine. But I demand that Kostya compensates me for my men.
OKSANA
You demand? You don't demand anything here.
POLANCO
For the ones he murdered. And their families.
OKSANA
Then we have no deal.
TERESA
Then I will compensate him by sending his first shipment for free.
TERESA
And if Kostya kills more of his people, I'll send sicarios to New York.
OKSANA
Teresa...
TERESA
These are the terms. We can double our business or we can go to war.
OKSANA
That's Kostya. He agrees to the deal.
POLANCO
If you ever change your mind about them, your coke and my muscle will make us the gods of New York.

TERESA
We'll talk soon.
POTE
It's clean. I'm sorry about Wheeler, Kelly Anne. I lost my temper. I saw those boys and I, I thought of Tony.

KELLY ANNE
Yeah. All those lives he destroyed. A man like that has it coming.

POTE
You're not upset?
KELLY ANNE
No. I'm pregnant.
KELLY ANNE
Yeah.
POTE
Are you sure?
POTE
How long?
KELLY ANNE
A few weeks. I took a pregnancy test this morning. I took, I took five of 'em actually. You have something on your face. Is this blood?

POTE
We're gonna be parents?
KELLY ANNE
The sun is coming up now.
POTE
We better go. We still have a few more hours to finish the job. I'll drop you off at the house.
KELLY ANNE
No. I've come this far.
POTE
Are you sure?
POTE
Let's go.
KELLY ANNE
Okay.
TERESA
Can I have a drag?

TERESA
I want you to stay.
JAMES
I'd like that.
TERESA
But you and me. It can't happen. Maybe in some other life, but not this one. I hope you understand.

KELLY ANNE
Hey, we won the bid. I'm just working on the contracts.

TERESA
Now, we only need nine hundred million more to pay for it.
KELLY ANNE
Well, we're on target after you closed that deal in New York. Now, there's another risk you have to consider. This is a public transaction.
TERESA
How? We're using shell corporations.

KELLY ANNE
Well, of course. But it means you're gonna own a big ol' chunk of the Mississippi River and the cat's gonna get out of the bag. It will bring attention to your business. It's the So, last chance before the ink dries. You wanna back out or you wanna pull the trigger?

TERESA
Do it.
KELLY ANNE
Okay.
POTE
He's here.
KELLY ANNE
You sure you wanna do this now? We don't know where the Judge has stashed the kickbacks from Wheeler. So, we don't exactly have a smoking gun yet.

TERESA
He doesn't know that. Let's go.
JUDGE CECIL
Where's Dumas?
TERESA
I have something else.
KELLY ANNE
This drive contains a database that's been tracking the millions in kickbacks you've been getting from sending over two thousand boys of color to jail. Knowing obviously if they go to juvie, they're twice as likely to end up in prison as an adult.

TERESA
Your new prison.
POTE
And they say crime doesn't pay.
JUDGE CECIL
Interesting theory. But you can't prove any of that.
KELLY ANNE
Hmm. Well, your partner Gordon Wheeler kept very detailed records. Names and court dates and dollar amounts and... Well, we have 'em.
JUDGE CECIL
What do you want?
TERESA
A press conference. You're going to clear Dumas for the murder of your son.
JUDGE CECIL
And if I don't comply?
TERESA
We'll go to the press and the FBI.
JUDGE CECIL
After that, I suppose you'll want me to resign.
TERESA
No. You work for me now. When I call, you answer on the second ring. You do exactly what I say or I'll destroy the only thing you have left. Your family's name.
TERESA
Thank you.
LUCIEN
We've said all there is to say Ms. Mendoza.
TERESA
I have a message for Marcel. Lafayette has been taken care of.
LUCIEN
Really? How's that?
TERESA
He's going to say he made a mistake. He'll clear Marcel's name.
LUCIEN
I'll believe that when I see it.
TERESA
Watch the news tomorrow morning. And let him know.
JUDGE CECIL
The press conference will be in my office at eight am. I'll explain everything then.
PEOPLE ON STREET

MALE BODYGUARD

JUDGE CECIL
What the hell?

BOAZ
Get in. Now.
JUDGE CECIL