Herod's Law

The story opens with a tense scene as a desperate man hastily fills bags with cash under the cloak of night. In a shocking display of violence, he leaves a lifeless body of the mayor behind him, setting off a chain of catastrophic events.

Following the murder of the mayor, a ruthless mob arrives seeking revenge. They enact a gruesome punishment on the perpetrator, using a machete, ensuring that the violent nature of the town is unveiled.

In the wake of the mayor's death, State Governor Sánchez instructs Secretary López to find a temporary replacement. The task falls to López, who surprisingly suggests Juan Vargas, a seemingly innocent man working at a local landfill.

Vargas and his wife, Gloria, are initially thrilled by this unexpected opportunity. They arrive in San Pedro, only to be greeted by the stark reality of poverty and a community trapped in silence and despair.

Despite Gloria's worries, Vargas decides to dig deeper into his new role. He uncovers a troubling history of corruption in local politics, meeting influential characters like Doña Lupe and the Parish Priest Pérez along the way.

Faced with an empty municipal budget, Vargas travels to the state capital to plead for additional funds. A twist of fate occurs when his car breaks down, leading to an encounter with Robert Smith, who offers him money under an alias.

While trying to enforce change, Vargas attempts to shut down Doña Lupe's brothel. His efforts meet fierce resistance, and he is threatened with a cleaver, which leaves him shaken but intrigued by the potential for personal gain.

Vargas succumbs to temptation when Doña Lupe proposes a lucrative partnership in exchange for his complicity in her illicit activities. This decision marks the start of his moral decline, as he begins to exploit the town further.

As Vargas’s demands grow outrageous, Doña Lupe retaliates by sending an enforcer to collect debts. In a fit of rage, Vargas seeks revenge, brutally killing both the enforcer and Doña Lupe, inadvertently leaving evidence of his guilt.

When Vargas discovers his incriminating pin is missing, he panics and sets up Filemón, the town's drunkard, as a scapegoat. In a cruel twist, Vargas murders Filemón to eliminate any loose ends, solidifying his descent into corruption.

Vargas's spiraling mental state culminates in a horrific act against his wife, Gloria, after discovering her affair with Robert Smith. This brutal act serves to further cement his tyrannical rule over the town and deepen his isolation.

López arrives in San Pedro demanding that Vargas turn over the gains he has made during his corrupt tenure. A violent confrontation ensues, culminating in Vargas killing López and his henchman, Tiburón, spiraling deeper into chaos.

As Vargas's actions catch up with him, a furious mob led by Father Pérez and Vargas's secretary Pek seeks justice for the violence and oppression he has inflicted. In a critical moment, their rage threatens to end his reign of terror.

Just as Vargas faces certain death, government officials intervene to rescue him from the mob. In a stunning twist, he manages to reinvent himself as a hero, claiming victory over López's corruption, despite his own misdeeds.

With a new mayor arriving in San Pedro, it becomes clear that the tumultuous cycle of corruption is set to repeat itself. As Ramírez steps into his role at the landfill, the town's fate hangs in the balance, echoing Vargas and Gloria's earlier struggles.