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| ...but they do refuse, leading to a gang war that leaves some of Santana's men literally drown in their own dope. |
JD is the first of Santana's close confidants to get out of prison, and he first sees the possibility of using La Cliqua's prison power to dominate the drug trade on the outside. Santana is initially willing to go along. When he finally gets released, Santana immediately takes on the role of drug kingpin. This involves squeezing out the Italian mafia that still controls the drug trade. Gradually, however, Santana begins to have second thoughts.
Though he finds that he is widely feared and respected on the outside, he's also concerned about the effects of the gang and drug culture on his friends, family, and neighbors. He particularly seems concerned about how pervasive it has become among the kids in the neighborhood. Just as importantly, he begins a romance with Julie (Evelina Fernández), a woman from his circle of friends. Julie likes Santana for the shy kid inside, not for his tough exterior. This is a first for Santana, and it softens him. He also has a heart-to-heart with his father, who admits to his mixed feelings about his son, who was, he now learns, conceived through the rape of his mother during the riots in 1943. Does Santana take away the lesson that hatred breeds hatred? Olmos plays Santana too close to the vest here; this revelation should have had a greater impact.