American Dirt

In a flashback, Lydia ponders the trust at the core of her relationship with Sebastián: neither demands knowing everything about the other, each keeps certain personal matters to themselves, and Sebastián is rarely jealous. Keeping her friendship with Javier to herself makes sense in the context of a marriage based on mutual trust. Even after learning Javier is The Owl, Lydia hesitates to tell Sebastián about their friendship, but she confesses. They discuss Sebastián’s article, an exposé introducing the public to Acapulco’s newest drug kingpin. Lydia struggles to reconcile the violent picture Sebastián paints with the man in her bookstore. She defends Javier, prompting Sebastián to ask if she is in love. She confesses to loving Javier, but not to being in love.

Javier gives Lydia Russian nesting dolls, claiming the large ones represent him, and the smallest one her. She tells him she knows he is a narco. He presumed she already knew. He professes his love for her and claims she is his only true friend. He insists he would abandon his ways if he could, but that Acapulco would suffer a new cartel war. Lydia wonders what terrible crimes Javier committed to become a cartel jefe, but fear and sadness prevent her from asking.