When things in life go off the desired track, we tell ourselves to fake it ’til we make it. Although Camila has already made it, her time as a drug queenpin is quivering. Confidence is key, but even that might not get her back on top.
As the episode opens, we see her and James confront men in a biker bar sorting 90 percent pure cocaine. She doesn’t appear worried, even though this is another customer that is finding the product elsewhere. But like others have said, “It’s just this one time.” Because of this, Camila knows the product, which is hard to compete with, has tremendous potential to run her out of business.
We get Dallas flair throughout the episode with scene transitions. The visuals aren’t as in-your-face as they have been, but the scene transitions give the viewers images of the skyline.
James and Camila walk out empty-handed, and they drive to a park, where Camila calls Epifanio, still not having any idea he is the one out for her business. After their conversation ends, Cesar, dressed in a uniform that has an 18th century chic to it, tells Epifanio that Camila started this and now it is just business. And we see the dirty side of business throughout this episode as Epifanio continues to undermine Camila, going as far as to say someone on her side has relations with the DEA. He is a snake. It’s him.
Last week Teresa went into a small church where she has seen vans of people go. She follows them in and asks the pastor if the people are coming from Mexico. She wants to help her loved ones, but he says he doesn’t have any idea about them, instead inviting her to come in for the free meal inside. Flash-forward to this week, and they meet again in the Farmacia Botanica where she is getting medication for a girl in the warehouse sick with a fever. He tells her that he can help her get to Mexico, he just couldn’t say anything before. She thanks him and gets the medication, heading back to the car. But instead of reporting straight back to the warehouse, she heads back over to immigration lawyer Dad Shelton’s house to talk to him about immigration papers for her, Brenda, and Tony. She wants to disappear — she is getting too involved with Camila’s crew.
Dad Shelton has a line of cocaine and a box of sugary cereal for breakfast. “Ah, need that morning pick-me-up.” You know, usually a cup or two of coffee does it for me, but we all have our morning routines, I suppose.
He needs $30,000 per person — that’s the starting rate. Now things are heating up. After this, she heads to Brenda’s mini-warehouse-motel-room to get photos for new IDs. Teresa tells her she is getting way too involved and needs to disappear. Brenda is just getting settled, but understands. “I love you. Stay out of trouble.” It’s a little late for that Brenda, but it’s the thought that counts, right?
Teresa comes back to the warehouse with medicine to help the girl she rooms with, when Camila wants to see her. Watching this scene is almost like watching a mother lecture her teenage daughter about missing curfew. Camila wants trust and communication. Teresa nods her head.
After meeting with the head of distribution, Camila knows to get another shipment, she owes him $5 million in three days. She sends James — with Teresa in tow — to a cemetery, where all the money they have, conveniently $5 million, is stored in a grave marked “Garcia.” James tells Teresa to always save for a rainy day. And we thought hiding money under our mattresses was fine.
But once they get back to the car, they realize they are being followed and soon are out $2.5 million when Eric’s men cross their path and grab a bag of money out of the trunk. And then the show cuts back to Brenda and her mini-business, where she decides in order to make more money, they need to produce and sell crystal meth. Yikes.
Near the end of the episode, Epifanio calls Camila again, but this time, not about shipments. “I’ve been thinking about our lives. All the great times we had.” Camila knows he has been drinking, but listens anyways. “You told me I was the greatest man you had ever met. What do you think it would take for you to say that to me again?” He tells her that she is a sensational woman and a mother. Epifanio is not messing with her right now–they are both teary-eyed. We see a couple that loved each other, and probably still does, but business has gotten in the way of their pleasure.
Back at the warehouse, Future Teresa pays Present Day Teresa a visit that night as she gets ready for bed. “Congratulations. You made it through another day.” And with a new day coming around the corner for Teresa, Camila has decided that they are not going to ask for the money back. They are going to steal it.
Episode 8 airs 9 pm next Thursday, Aug. 11.
