El Mariachi (Banderas) is recruited by CIA Agent Sands (Depp) to kill General Marquez. Marquez had murdered El Mariachi's wife and child and has been hired by Mexican drug lord Armando Barillo to assassinate the Mexican President. Sands recruits retired FBI Agent Jorge Ramirez to kill Barillo, as Barillo had been responsible for the death of Ramirez's partner, Agent Archuleta. Sands also hires AFN Agent Ajedrez to tail Barillo.