Character Relationship Map: Swindled

Characters

• Pilar (played by Victoria Abril) — protagonist

  Pilar is a woman from Federico’s past who re-enters his life with an ambitious proposal. She seeks to involve Federico, Ernesto, and their associates in a con targeting a golden goose, promising finan...

• Ernesto (played by Ernesto Alterio) — supporting

  Ernesto is a young con man and the narrator of the flashback. He describes growing up in an orphanage, moving into smash-and-grab burglaries, and later learning more sophisticated fraud. His partnersh...

• Federico (played by Federico Luppi) — supporting

  Federico is presented as the best of the con artists, a true artist whose arrival strengthens Ernesto’s criminal circle after years of success. His connection to Pilar is central to the proposed golde...

• Manco (played by Manuel Alexandre) — supporting

  Manco is mentioned only in Pilar's reference to how Federico once dealt with him. The summary gives no further details about who Manco is or what happened between them, but the reference informs Pilar...

• Gitano (played by Alejandro Casaseca) — supporting

  Gitano is a feared older boy Ernesto had to contend with while living under the care of priests as a child. The summary identifies him as a source of difficulty in Ernesto's harsh upbringing, but prov...

• Orozco (played by Manuel Morón) — supporting

  Orozco is one of the potential investors introduced to Federico with Pilar's help. He is drawn into the land-purchase scheme based on Federico's claim of advance government information, but becomes su...

• Luís Onieva (played by Christopher de Andrés) — supporting

  Luís Onieva is presented by Federico as a government insider who can provide advance information about planned land purchases. This supposed access is central to persuading Orozco and other investors...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Federico → Manco (Unknown Past Criminal Connection) — The excerpt refers to a prior episode involving Federico and Manco but does not explain what happened between them.

  Pilar hints at dealing with their victims as Federico once dealt with Manco.

• Luís Onieva → Orozco (Narrative Claimed Insider And Investor) — Luís is presented to Orozco as the supposed source of valuable government information; the excerpt does not establish that this connection is genuine.

  Federico claims that Luís Onieva can provide advance information about government land purchases, a claim used to attract investors including Orozco.

• Pilar → Orozco (Conflict Con Artist And Target) — Pilar helps bring Orozco into the investment pitch that the group uses to draw investors into the con.

  Pilar helps introduce Federico to Orozco and other potential investors for the land-purchase scheme.

• Federico → Orozco (Conflict Con Artist And Target) — Federico draws Orozco into the fraudulent investment scheme, while Orozco's suspicion threatens to expose it.

  Federico claims that Luís Onieva can provide advance information about land purchases, and Pilar helps introduce Federico to Orozco as a potential inv...

• Ernesto → Gitano (Conflict Childhood Bully And Victim) — Gitano is an intimidating obstacle during Ernesto's childhood in the priests' care.

  As a child, Ernesto learned to use convincing lies to avoid punishment, but he still had to contend with a feared older boy known as Gitano.

• Pilar → Ernesto (Alliance Con Partners) — Pilar draws Ernesto into the larger scheme she proposes, although the excerpt does not detail a direct disagreement between them.

  Pilar seeks to involve Federico, Ernesto, and their associates in a con targeting wealthy investors.

• Pilar → Federico (Alliance Past Connection And Criminal Allies) — Pilar's return brings Federico into the investment scheme, but their different attitudes toward risk create tension between them.

  Pilar helps introduce Federico to Orozco and other potential investors. She proposes securing the money and hints at a risky plan, while Federico refu...

• Ernesto → Federico (Alliance Con Artist Partners) — Federico teaches Ernesto more elaborate methods of deception, and the two collaborate in the major investment con.

  Ernesto becomes involved with Federico, who tests him and explains his methods for running cons. They later work together on schemes targeting investo...

Story Analysis

Ernesto's recollections frame a story of practiced deception, elaborate cons, and a high-stakes investment scheme whose final planned exchange remains unresolved in the excerpt.

Plot Progression

1. A Childhood Forged by Lies — An elderly couple's deception frames Ernesto's account of a life built on lying. His childhood under the priests' care teaches him that deception can sometimes offer relief, though Gitano remains a th...
2. Learning the Con Artist's Craft — As an adult, Ernesto enters the world of cons and meets Federico, who tests him and explains how to study victims and earn their trust. Federico demonstrates the approach through a military-supplies s...
3. The Investment Trap Tightens — Pilar helps bring Federico to Orozco and other investors. Federico's claim of advance government information draws them into a land scheme and prompts the group to seek additional money.
4. A Staged Wound and Final Switch — Orozco's suspicion threatens to expose the con, while Pilar's suggestion of a riskier response creates tension with Federico. The group stages Federico's apparent shooting, then plans an airport brief...