Episode 3 of *The Dead Girls* opens in the quaint town of Mezcala in December 1962. Arcangela's son, Beto, has just been shot, and in a frenzy, he rushes to the familiar confines of Mexico Lindo. A rapid-fire montage unveils the troubled roots of his existence: his father was a consummate scammer, and the young boy, growing up in such an environment, morphs into a veritable troublemaker. His journey through the educational system is marred by expulsions—a result of his family's unsavory reputation, his dark skin color, retaliation against bullying, and even for leading a gang. The breaking point arrives when, during his stint in medical school, he stabs his tormentor.
Arcangela, a stern and protective mother, endeavors to shield him from the harsh realities of her world, ultimately deciding to send him off to Los Angeles. Their interactions become sporadic, limited mostly to Beto's pleas for money, which Arcangela, despite everything, obliges without hesitation.
In 1959, Beto returns home, only to plunge into the murky waters of drug trafficking, all the while keeping his mother in the dark with a web of lies. His ascent in this illicit world brings him wealth and success, but like his mother, his name becomes tarnished. It's only through Captain Bedoya that Arcangela stumbles upon the truth about her son's clandestine operations.
November 1962 sees the arrival of Federal Detective Guillomar, dispatched to delve into Beto's affairs. Arcangela, ever the vigilant mother, attempts to sound the alarm for her son, but Beto, lost in his own world, turns a deaf ear. His attention is captivated by the alluring Conchita, and he embarks on a quest to win her heart. Though her friends, steeped in colorism, judge him harshly, Conchita remains undeterred, her affection for him undiminished.
Beto nearly jeopardizes everything by attempting to seduce her, but he manages to salvage the situation with a heartfelt proposal. However, their budding romance is cut short when Conchita's two brothers catch sight of them together, expressing their vehement disapproval. In a fit of rage, they strike her and forbid her from ever seeing Beto again.
Meanwhile, Detective Guillomar meticulously commences his investigation, interrogating witnesses and tailing Beto's every move. Arcangela, in a desperate bid to save her son, tries to warn him once more, only to be met with resistance and indifference.
A month slips by, and the detective pays Beto a visit, demanding a substantial bribe as the price for his freedom. Beto, though initially compliant, finds himself consumed by thoughts of Conchita, his efforts to reconnect with her consuming his every waking moment.
Simultaneously, Detective Pacheco arrives brandishing a warrant, and the disreputable Guillomar, compelled by the circumstances, agrees to arrest Beto. As they tail the drug dealer, he succumbs to inebriation and serenades Conchita outside her residence. Conchita, having endured enough, prompts her brothers to take action. In a moment of fury, they shoot Beto. He staggers back home, where he eventually bleeds out and meets his demise.
The detectives promptly notify the local authorities before vanishing into the night. The sisters are left heartbroken, their sorrow exacerbated when the government seizes upon the murder as a pretext to shutter the bar. Citing violations of health and hygiene regulations, they evict everyone without warning.
With Arcangela rendered catatonic by grief, Serafina takes charge and devises a plan. She leads everyone to their now-closed casino and convinces the next-door neighbor to grant them access through her roof, claiming they possess the necessary permits to reopen. Although the papers are still pending, she negotiates a monthly fee for the privilege of creating a passageway between the two properties and utilizing the neighbor's electricity.
As their brothel business lies dormant, income dries up, forcing them to dip into their savings. This dire situation finally rouses Arcangela from her mourning, and she springs into action. She offloads ten of the less attractive and troubled girls, as well as the second brothel. Additionally, she enforces strict austerity measures, ensuring everyone spends only the bare essentials.
Seven months drag on, yet their lawyer, Rendon, remains unable to overturn the suspension on Mexico Lindo. He discovers that the gay secretary, Sanabria, harbors a personal grudge and is doing everything in his power to ensure they can never resume operating a brothel.
Frustrated by the impasse, the sisters decide to diversify their investments and venture into a livestock ranch to secure their livelihood. As is customary, Bedoya steps in as the mediator, pocketing a hefty commission from the sale.
In an interview, the ranch's former owner recounted his desperation, lamenting that he would never have parted with the property had he been privy to the sisters' clandestine operations. In a separate interview, Eulalia unveiled the genesis of their downfall—the ranch itself. Through a series of poignant flashbacks, we witness the struggles of Eulalia and her husband, Teofilo, as they teeter on the brink of financial ruin. It was then that Arcangela stepped in, offering them a lifeline by hiring them to reconstruct the ranch. Yet, the compensation barely scratched the surface of their mounting expenses. Instead of monetary relief, Arcangela bestowed upon them a firearm, ostensibly for protection against the ever-looming threat of thieves.
July 1963 marked the grand unveiling of the ranch, an event marred by Arcangela's disdain as she surveyed the motley crew of guests—a gathering composed not of the elite she had envisioned, but of their own girls, bouncers, drivers, and other low-ranking men. Their fall from grace was palpable, a stark contrast to the grandeur Arcangela had hoped to project.
Three days after this ill-fated opening, tragedy struck as one of the girls, Blanca, met her untimely demise. During the ranch's inaugural celebration, Blanca had been a harrowing sight, her body battered and disfigured. It was later revealed by the enigmatic Skull that Blanca was the first among the Dead Girls, a haunting moniker that would come to define a series of grim events.
