Serpiente

**Serpiente** is the fifth episode of the the second season of Snowfall. It is the fifteenth episode overall.

Outline

When Franklin needs Teddy's help to clear the air with an old partner, Teddy sees a business opportunity. Lucia comes to the realization not everyone in her crew is who they seem to be.

## Summary

### Gustavo

Gustavo is back at Doña Rosa's place for another reading and does something crazy with an egg and a bowl of water. She then holds that very bowl over the table and asked Oso if he has experienced trouble with Pedro or Soledad and Gustavo's answer is no. Rosa then places tarot cards on the table and tells him to pick one. Gustavo randomly chooses a card and Rosa's reads it. It's the card of the serpent, meaning there is a snake amongst him. Rosa then hands Gustavo a gold trinket for protection and wishes him good luck.

### Franklin

Franklin is walking down the streets with groceries seeing kids playing around and then sees Avi and his boys free from jail and throwing cash around. He then tells Franklin that money does fall from the sky. Franklin then enters Jerome's home and later discusses the rock he's been making and distributing as well as Avi's absence now that he believes they can go back to business. Avi then tells Franklin about his upcoming meeting with the man who got him thrown in jail and kill him then states they'll return back to business in a week, while writing down the location of his new place and number on a TV guide and then leaves with his men.

### Teddy

At the cemetery, Franklin demands Teddy answers on how quickly he was able to get out of jail. Teddy suggested he may have cut some kind of deal with the Feds, but Franklin finds that hard to believe since his home was rife with guns and coke. Franklin even has it in his head that another reason for him getting out early was set up Franklin so he can get busted. Teddy then calls Franklin paranoid for believing that and Franklin lashes out about the fact that he is a black man in America and that white folks had a bad track record with people like him and admits he is paranoid. Teddy offers to look into it seeing how LAPD paychecks are peanuts compared to what they make. Franklin, of course, tell Teddy he is considering returning back to dealing with Avi, but even Teddy think that is a bad idea. Knowing Avi to be crazy and over the edge, Franklin pointed how Avi told him about how he was going to meet the guy that got him locked up and kill him. Teddy then requests Franklin to let him reach out to Avi. Franklin then tells Teddy that he wants to be there when they confront Avi otherwise he returns back to working with the Israeli. Teddy then told Franklin that if that happens, Avi will believe Franklin to be the snitch and Teddy won't be able to protect him. Franklin is dissatisfied with the answer and leaves.

### Lorena

Lorena is dropped off at the packing plant by Pedro to see Lucia, still resuming her cover as 'Soledad'. Lucia informs her that Teddy will be arriving to pick up a shipment and will need aid with the crates. Instead, Matt arrives at the warehouse. He informs Lucia that Teddy is occupied elsewhere and will be collecting the crates of avocados himself. As Lorena attempts to pick up a crate, Matt has her step aside and takes the crate himself along with some of the other workers. As Matt and the workers are taking the avocado crates to his vehicle, Lucia asks about his expertise as a pilot. While he brings up his time flying, Lucia tells him Soledad has never been on a plane before and Matt, upon hearing that, suggested taking her on his plane at some point, but in his own way. Lucia then stated taking her on one of his Colombia trips. He considers a trip but a little closer to home and takes off with the crates. After he leads, Lorena pointed out to Lucia that she didn't appreciated that, but Lucia tells her she was just playing him and not to worry about it. She then tells Lorena to just keep working him and returns inside.

### Alton

Cissy is preparing to head to work while Alton is barely recovered, sober, and making lunch. Cissy checks to see what Alton is doing as he is looking around the kitchen and asks what he's doing. He tells her was making egg salad but had no mustard and made an accusation that she assumed he was looking for the booze. Cissy denies that and informed Alton there is no alcohol in the house and prepares to head to work. Alton stopped her and asked how she is doing with the bills and mortgage and offers to lend a hand for her. Cissy refuses to answer and tells her husband she needs to get to work as she leaves the kitchen.

### Peaches

Peaches arrives at the cook house looking for Renny, who is no where in sight. He hears a commotion in the bedroom and draws his gun and finds Leon backdooring Wanda on the bed. Peaches makes himself known and Leon and Wanda freak out, ruining the mood. Wanda flips out at Leon accusing him of lying about being alone. Leon then exits the bedroom where he snaps at Peaches, who in turn, states he can't screw properly. They get in a small mouthy argument involving Kevin's whereabouts and how to properly bang a woman. Leon walks back into the bedroom to try to calm down Wanda who is not happy about the latter event and Peaches catcalls her from the living room.

### Franklin

Franklin returns back to Jerome's place and finds 3 ladies on the front porch and demands to know what they're doing there. One of them gets mouthy at Franklin, and he takes great offense to that. Kevin and another crewmember, Jay, exit the house and halt the hostilities. While Jay approaches the trio, Franklin asks Kevin why there are Hispanic women on his Aunt and Uncle's porch. Kevin claims he was going to get some specials smokes for the ladies and just doing his thing. Franklin pushes further for what he meant by that, and Kevin made it clear he was going to find out who offed Delroy and Vic. Franklin tells him to be careful, Kevin heeds his advice and takes off with Jay and the 3 ladies. Franklin enters the house with the phone ringing. Jerome hollers for someone to answer the phone and Franklin answers the phone. Peaches calls and informs Franklin that Kevin isn't at the cook house like he was supposed to be, and Franklin states that Kevin is occupied and will send Jerome. Franklin then hollers at his Uncle to head to the cook house and help out Peaches and then sees his father outside the door. Alton asks for a moment to talk but Franklin refuses to hear a word he has to say. Alton then states that Cissy is 3 months behind on her house payments. Franklin then asks how he knows any of that. Alton told him about his unfortunate accident, not bringing up the excessive force from the LAPD, and how she took him in. Franklin was in disbelief that his mother would take him back into her home. There is a commotion in the back room and Jerome's new lady, Dolores, snaps at Jerome for not keeping his promise on taking her to Fatburger. Jerome tells her he was going to head to Fatburger himself and suggested she head off. Dolores gets mouthy with Jerome and calls it off with him as she leaves. Franklin checks on Jerome who is not right in his mind and orders him to help Peaches. As Jerome leaves, Franklin exits the house and Alton explains he saw the notices at the house and asks Franklin to help if he had the means to do so. Franklin, knowing his father's past, makes it known to Alton he doesn't trust him with his cash. The conversation comes to a screeching halt as Franklin returns back inside and slams the door.

### Teddy

Teddy shows Matt pictures of several runways with good coverage and asks his opinion, Matt states he might be able to pull it off, but Teddy senses some hesitation from his brother. Matt brings up how Teddy talked about the job being temporary and wonders why he's not just bringing in coke from Colombia but shipping weapons to Honduras as well. Teddy then tells his brother that if he was thinking about walking away, it would be a bad time to do that immediately and suggested waiting until they won their war. Matt brings up how he has a life to get back to and Teddy disses his life. Matt was not to happy about that. Teddy then states to Matt that he can talk to people better that him and he needed him. Matt then asks why throw the insults, and Teddy apologizes and asks what he wants. Matt demands more money, but not just for their father, but so he can start up his own skydiving school. Teddy is puzzled by Matt's future plans and Matt reminds his brother that he gets paid to fly and jump out of planes and states he can think of nothing better. Teddy accepts that requests and asks what else he wanted. Matt then bluntly stated no more dead bodies, no moving them, no disposing of them, nothing. Matt makes it known he will not fly for Teddy unless he agrees to those terms. Teddy agrees, knowing such a promise would be hard to keep. Matt then states he also want's the plane, and tells his brother he will be flying the plane back home once the job is over and suggested Teddy can get another one. Teddy refuses that demand, prompting Matt to force his brother's hand. Teddy then tells Matt he can have the plane. Matt then pours the salt on the wound, stating he is essential for all operations while Teddy answers a phone call.

### Cissy

While Cissy is cleaning up the tables at the diner, Franklin enters and demands to know if it's true if Alton is back in her home. Cissy tells her son who she lets in her home is her own business. Franklin then brings up Alton talking about how she may possibly lose her home due to her bill pile-up. A customer calls for Cissy as she is cleaning up the tables. Franklin then gets a page and tells his mother that he's only there to take advantage of him while the customer continues to call for her. Cissy's manager, Sammy, tells her that there's an order up for her. The customer who constantly called for Cissy asks for more coffee. Franklin, fed up with the customer, then grabbed a mug of hot coffee from the bar, slammed it in front of him, stating 'Here's your motherfuckin' coffee' and approaches his mother. Sammy asks if everything was fine, and she states it's all good. Franklin then tells his mother while she is working that Alton shouldn't be staying in her home. Cissy reminds him he has no say about what to do with her life. Franklin then brings up how he always heard her crying in bed overnight because of Alton. Cissy then tells her son now Alton is the reason she is not crying in bed every night and returns to work.

### Gustavo

At the warehouse, Oso dumps out the bags of drugs on the table and informs Lucia that Franklin was late for the deal. Lucia, of course, teases Gustavo about the gold trinket Rosa gave him. Gustavo doesn't find it amusing and shows it to Lucia, who asked if their future was looking bright. Oso tells Lucia about his appointment and was warned to be careful. He then showed Lucia a line on his hand, and states that by it curving, he should not trust short Mexican women. The lab workers then arrive and prepare to strip down for their shifts. Pedro and Lorena arrive afterward, still portraying an engaged couple, and enter the lab. Gustavo then closes the lab door.

### Louie

At the nightclub, Louie is going over some numbers with Claudia and informs her the number are off and they may be missing inventory. Claudia is not happy to hear about her merchandise being lifted. Franklin arrives and is greeted by both Claudia and Louise. Claudia leaves the room to deal with a situation and Franklin informs his aunt that Wanda has stepped up to do the cooking. Louie then talked to Franklin about how she went with Claudia to New York during Christmas and spoke about how amazing it was to be there. Franklin finally states his reasoning for being there and states that things have been real different since her absence, from Avi being released from jail, to Alton moving back in with Cissy, to Jerome being a wreck and is begging for her return. Louie, unaware that Claudia is overlooking them, tells her nephew it's one thing if they want to catch up but not to ask her to come back. She states she happy there, and Franklin states he's happy for her or so he wants her to believe and hugs her good-bye.

### Gustavo

There's a knock at the warehouse and Gustavo walks over to answer it. It's Stomper, along with Memo, and another member, Stranger, carrying a duffel bag. Gustavo leads the Los Monarcas boys to the lab for the deal. Pedro is not happy to see the Los Monarcas boys there, knowing they are responsible for his fathers death. When Lucia is handed the bag of cash, Stomper asks Pedro how his family was, and Pedro snaps at them. Gustavo then tells him to calm down. Stomper then declares to the Villanuevas that the Los Monarcas now control everything. Gustavo then states they control nothing unless Gabriella Elias allows them control. Stomper takes offense and places a switchblade to Oso's throat. As soon as Gustavo sees a serpent tattoo on Stomper's arm, remembering the tarot card he saw, he knocks his arm out of the way and headbutts him. Lucia turns around to grab her purse and searches for a gun while Memo pulls out his gun but gets knocked down by Oso. Lucia manages to get her gun but is shot with a shotgun blast by Stranger. Lorena has a gun ready and hits Stranger with multiple shots. Gustavo then takes Stompers knife and then stabs him to death with it. As Memo engages Oso once more with his gun in hand, Lorena takes a shot at Memo and kills him. Gustavo then sees Memo drop dead and everyone notices that Lorena was the one who saved them all, Lucia, dealing with her wound, notices the manner in which Lorena killed them in. Oso then runs over to Lucia and picks her up to get her to the office to treat her gunshot wound.

### Alton

Alton is in the kitchen fixing himself tea and hears Cissy enter the home from work. She just stares at Alton and says nothing indicating that Franklin knows. Alton tells her it wasn't his plan to see him and never meant for him to track her down. Cissy then told Alton their son showed up at her job. When Alton leaves the kitchen to the dining room, Cissy stops him and tells him that Franklin caused a scene and nearly cost her that job. Alton admits he never should have gone to Franklin but states his reasoning, which are the notices he discovered, indicating Cissy is about the lose the house. Cissy heads into her room and Alton approaches her bedroom door to inform her that it will take a while for his Military benefits to come in. He then stated he thought he'd reach out to his son for help. Cissy loses it and then told Alton she would lose the house before she ever accepts drug money from her son. Alton tells her she had done right by him after he was landed into the hospital and he only wants to return the favor but cannot continue to be a burden for her like he was before and declares he will be moving out and thanks her for everything. As he is about to walk away, Cissy stops him and tells him he has never been a burden to her and asks him to pull the ground beef out of the freezer to thaw out so they can have dinner together.

### Teddy

Franklin and Teddy are now at the hotel to see Avi. They approach the guards at the doors and are let in to the suite. They enter to see Avi enjoying a nice meal and upon seeing both Teddy and Franklin together, Avi orders his men to get them both out of his place, accusing him of ratting him out to the police. Teddy then tells Avi it was his idea to approach him and bring him. Teddy then stated that he told Franklin that it would be in his best interest to do business with him. Avi then tells Teddy that Franklin is all his and no longer needs to supply him. Teddy then spoke Avi, but in Hebrew, that he's not there to talk drug business, but guns. Avi pulls Teddy aside and leaves Franklin with Yuda. Avi then asks what he knows about guns, and Teddy states he knows about the deal he struck with the ATF, which explains his early release. Teddy then states that with the security detail and the luxury suites he has, it's obvious he turned over on someone huge. Teddy then gets down to business and requests heavy hardware for the contra war. Avi seems to enjoy the deal, and Teddy states the weapons he gets cannot be traced back to the United States and must be delivered outside America, suggesting Panama, and the deal must be by the books and no horseplay. Avi agrees as long as Teddy has the money to back it up. Avi also warns him that the people he uses, should they not get the money, he'll be dropping the name 'Reed Thompson'. As he prepares to walk to another room, Avi asks where the guns would be going and Teddy gives him the silent treatment. Teddy later informs Franklin it's time to leave but Franklin wants to know if he and Avi are good. Avi then officially cuts ties with Franklin as he returns to his meal.

### Lucia

Lucia is in the office having Lorena remove the shotgun shrapnel from her shoulder. Lorena keeps insisting that she would need medical help and some antibiotics which Lucia knows would cause even more trouble for the business. Lorena, still holding on to her cover, then talks about how her father taught her to use a gun as a kid when they hunted javelinas breaking into their yard. Lucia, still wandering how a Texas waitress was able to take down two hardened thugs in such a way, shows her gratitude for saving her life. Lorena then states they are now family and that's what they do.

### Gustavo

Oso and Pedro are in a vacant area outside Los Angeles in the middle of the night disposing of the corpses of Stomper, Memo, and Stranger.

### Franklin

Back home, Franklin and Jerome are in the middle of a poker game and Franklin tells his uncle about how Teddy was able to get Avi off his back, assuming he had some connections and a police officer on the take. Kevin and Jay return with injuries on them, and Franklin demands to know what happened to them. Kevin states it was those ladies from the Barrio that caused their injuries, not revealing his true intentions with them. Franklin then tells Kevin and Jay that this isn't a game to deal with Mexicans. Kevin lashes out knowing this was never a game for him, but a personal vendetta. Knowing full well why Kevin and Jay were injured, Franklin declared there to be no more Barrio manhunt, ending his deal with Kevin from the nightclub.

### Lucia

As Lucia and Lorena enjoy some tequila, Gustavo and Pedro alert the ladies that the bodies are buried. Gustavo also reminds them that La Fuerza will be at their door with Stomper's absence. Lucia tells everyone the lab needs to be cleaned up by morning then asks Lorena and Pedro to exit the office so she can have a private conversation with Oso. Pedro and Lorena leave the room and as they head toward the lab, Lucia informs Gustavo they are to halt all shipments and productions, stating Lorena's law enforcement. She tells Oso the manner in which she used the gun against Memo and Stranger; no misses; proper handling; and muscle memory; known police training. Gustavo asks why they aren't in jailing, seeing how Lorena as enough evidence to put them away. Lucia then tells Oso that she's possibly building a case, going after her buyers and distributors as well, naming La Fuerza as one while seeing her and Pedro cleaning the lab. Oso then ponders a question. If she's a cop, what does that make Pedro?

## Cast

Main* Damson Idris as Franklin Saint
* Carter Hudson as Teddy McDonald
* Emily Rios as Lucia Villanueva
* Sergio Peris-Mencheta as Gustavo "El Oso" Zapata
* Michael Hyatt as Cissy Saint
* Amin Joseph as Jerome Saint
* Angela Lewis as Louanne Saint
* Isaiah John as Leon Simmons
* Filipe Valle Costa as Pedro Nava
* Alon Aboutboul as Avi Drexler
* Malcolm M. Mays as Kevin Hamilton

Recurring* Kevin Carroll as Alton Williams
* Judith Scott as Claudia Crane
* Jonathan Tucker as Matt McDonald
* DeRay Davis as Peaches
* Adriana DeGirolami as Lorena Cardenas
* Gail Bean as Wanda Bell
* Tony Sancho as Stomper
* Taylor Kowalski as Rob Volpe
* Denise Blasor as Doña Rosa
* Jonathan Avigdori as Yuda
* Rita Rucker as Dolores
* Michael Edward Thomas as Sammy
* Howard Campbell as Jay
* Fernanda Chavez as Ximena
* Frank Merino as Memo
* Jessica Ramirez as Laura
* Stephanie Vargas as Kika

## Episode Deaths

* Stranger - Shot by Lorena
* Stomper - Stabbed by El Oso
* Memo - Shot by Lorena

## Music

* *Muriel* by **The Premiers**
* *The Panther* by **Manu Dibango**