- The truth...
lt lies in the mind of the listener.
lfyou can create truths that appear to be what really happened,
you have absolute power.
Listen to me.
Listen between my words.
And tell me if this is true or real.
THE AMERICAN TRAP
El Moroco Club, Havana
(Rivard): In '56, in Cuba, there was us,
in the industy of pleasure
that some people call crime.
And then therewas them, theAmericans,
who were cleaning out the island's nickel.
Rockefeller's yes-men dined at the same table
J as President Eisenh_er
while we ate the crumbs from their plates.
(music)
That same year,
Jack Kennedy wrote his book
andwon the Puli_er. Seven years later,
he'd die a hero.
That's when America Iost its innocence.
The USAwould never see the likes of it again.
The victors ofWorld War Il
were becoming vulnerable at home,
rotting from the inside out.
''Us'' was me, Lucien Rivard.
But above all,
Paul Mondolini,
one of the bosses in the French Connection.
Paul had started out as a jewel thief in Corsica
before graduating into drug tramicking
and arms dealing.
When it came to business,
borders meant nothing to Monsieur Paul.
A man ofvision, that Paulo.
, Me, l was his courier
his right-hand man his PR flack.
We'd created a model for raking in cash.
Such a good one that all kinds of businessmen
wanted to be ourfriends.
We showed them how to change water intowine,
and, boq, did they learn fast.
Paul was barred from Cuba, but he came an_ay
to meet with new associates.
And... the ladies.
Paulwas a ladies' man.
Ha! Some women are like sharks -
as long as you don't go in thewater,
you have nothing tofear;
but myou do, you better know how to swim.
Good evening, Mrs Batista. - Lucien...
- Gracias. - Fulgencio is raising your taxes.
- Raising them? How much?
- _25,OOO a week.
- We have a contract.
- It's not his fault.
Cuba has debts.
- _20,OOO.
Not a penny more.
(music and laughter)
- Lucien, a friend from Texas.
-And, uh, you are...?
- Jacob Rubenstein. - Lucien wants to get to know you.
(chuckling) - What's there to know?
Let's see... l, uh...
l own clubs in Dallas.
l got a job like youn.
And l'm connected.
l got friends. Cop friends.
And they like me.
- So we'll do some business together.
- l didn't immediately understand
who l was dealing with
the day Paul introduced me to Jack Ruby
and the girl he was with, Rose Cheramie.
Rose had something angelic about her,
but Ruby stank
like the Italian mobsters in florida and New Orleans.
- Come on, baby. Let's get some drinks.
- l don't like his face. - Forget his face.
We can use him. He's one of Roselli's guys.
Please, folks,
let me introduce Mr. Rivard, from Montreal.
- Paul and l were pals,
butwe didn't a_ays see eye to eye
in business.
He had a big-shot side to him.
He liked toflaunt it with theAmericans.
- They'll never let the Reds grab Cuba's nickel.
Ever.
Which means our nightclubs are safe.
The Yanks need the island.
lfwe sell Castro French guns,
the smack trade is safe.
And France won't close our Marseille labs.
- No, Paulo, no French guns.
TheAmericans would drop me cold.
- Who cares who sells what?
Business is business.
Money has no smell, guns no nationality.
- You don't care, but l have contacts.
l have a deal with the CIA.
Maurice Bishop.
-Aword of advice...
- Paul loved to give advice from books he hadn't read.
Me, l kept quiet,
so he'd think he was sma_er than me.
l was younger than him
and also more loyal.
But l onlyfound that out much later.
(torch song)
The sky of Cuba was also a heaven
for the guardian angels of Rockefeller's like.
Their cloud was called the CIA,
and their archangel, Maurice Bishop.
We call him ''the Engineer.''
He made sure the money-making machine
ran smoothly.
He was our contact
in the paradise called the USA,
the guy who pulled strings to protect our investments.
(moaning)
Bishop had learned to play the harp with the Germans.
He seemed almost aloof from the mundane.
He worked nonstop, even with the whores
he was recruiting to assassinate Castro.
He was obsessed with Castro.
And rightly so, l'd say.
With Bishop watching over the rebels,
Paul and l had a field day.
America's youth was looking for adventure
and we'd make sure they'dfind it.
This was going to be the decade offree love
and millions spent on gambling, sex and getting high.
Wewere thefirst totarget the baby boomer market -
a ''competitive edge,'' as they say at Harvard.
What was good for Rockefeller was good for us.
The people who supplied us with the raw drugs wanted guns.
Sowe brought them the surplus sold by our pals
in the French andAmerican armies.
ltwas a wild ride, but profit's profit.
There must've been some l_ic to it, because Bish_ didn't intemere.
Batista's price was 20 grand a week.
The rebels, halfthat.
We played the country likewe played the races,
but, jeez...
we bet on thewrong horse.
(crowd cheering)
The day Castro entered Havana, we should've run.
Batista had omered us his plane that night -
a Sunday.
Ha! He'd secretly emptied our bank accounts,
but sinn we didn't trust anyone,
we socked away a pile ofcash in Miami
preparing towait for the cavalry.
Kennedy backed down and his cavaly never showed up.
The rest is history - ours.
lt's the story of me, Paul, Bishop, Rose,
Jack Ruby and a few others.
The stoy of how America Iost its arr_ance,
its certaintq, its illusions.
The story ofthe death of a president
and a few innocent people
who found themselves in the right plan...
at the wrong time.
Dallas, Texas, summer 1963
- Rose!
- What?
- You know, you're prettier when you whisper. Hmm?
Call me as soon as you get there.
Hustle your ass.
- Who's gonna pay for the phone call?
- Oh. When you're not a sweetie, you're a real bitch.
Hmm?
Repeat your instructions again.
You can't be too careful.
- l contact Rivard.
- Then?
- l do what he tells me.
- This is the only delivey you know about.
One run, that's all.
-Anything else?
-Yes.
l love you.
(scoMng)
(coughing)
(mumbling) - Good girl.
(panting)
(knocking) Shit.
(whimpering)
- So Rosie's on her way to Rivard.
Your fly.
- Rose. Okay. - Mm.
- What else?
-All in good time.
(sighing)
You look nervous, Jack.
(chuckling)
Don't woy.
Rivard will get the job done.
- You know, l own this club and l don't need this shit.
Why the hell are we bringing all this smack
into the States now anyway? Hmm?
lt is way too risky, Paul. And you, my friend,
you've been acting a little too desperate.
What gives?
- Jack...
you know why.
To get rid of Castro.
Fort Pike, Louisiana, summer 1963
- Your order.
Where are the guns?
- Here's the address.
The guns are there.
- The Bahamas?
- He screwed us! - Listen to me!
You have the smack. l want the guns.
(cocking)
- l'm not screwing you, Diego.
My word's all l have.
Go to Nassau. Your cargo's waiting foryou.
Hey, Diego!
Next time you pull a gun on me,
you're dead.
Bishop... That's my last delivey on American soil.
Even with these Cubans.
The narcs would love to lock me away.
- Risks of thejob.
- Maybe, but you didn't do time in Cuba.
Castro didn't bust your balls.
Where are your hitmen from?
- Eastern Europe.
They can get into Cuba easily.
- Who's your mole with Castro?
Who'll replace Castro when he's dead?
- You don't need to know that.
Not now.
- We should've done the deal in Mexico.
- Fidel has eyes in Mexico, not here.
Get them Canadian papers, Ieave the rest to me.
- So they can fly through Montreal with their payload of drugs?
l'd be the fall guy.
Look at my face, Maurice. Does it say ''idiot''?
- l need the passports for September.
Book the flights now.
Dalla_Montreal.
- Can l know the date?
- On December 1,
they'll fly from Havana to Miami, then Dallas.
They'll fly to Montreal, and on to Paris.
The tickets have to be open for mo months, from November 1.
We need wiggle room.
- Sure the FBl won't nose around?
- _nt a letter from Bobby Kennedy? - l want protection.
Or find some salsa dancen to do it.
Montreal, Quebec
-Allô?
Same routine as last time, go in through the back.
Mondolini willfill you in.
- Will l see you before l leave?
- No, l have business down south.
Caron? - Yeah?
- Drive carefully.
When you hit Laredo, play the tourist.
- You can trust me.
(phone ringing)
- Hello?
- How does he seem?
- Nervous.
- Put him on.
- Caron!
- What?
- Is this your first time?
- No.
- You'll take the missus on vacation.
- Vacation?
ln Mexico.
You'll get money for passports.
Stay at the Diplomatico.
- Using our real names?
- Yeah.
We'll give you the number to call George.
Give me Groleau.
Yeah, Paul?
The car?
There's a box under the fin.
lt's welded in.
- Find us a hideout.
Something safe. - No problem.
New Orleans, Louisiana
(music)
- How long's it been since Havana?
- Five yean?
- Seven. -Already?
- Your smile's changed.
- Hmm.
Lost my religion.
ln Cuba l was young.
l was living a faiy tale.
Here it's a horror show.
Happy now?
- There's horror eveywhere.
You dominate or are dominated.
- Easy for a man to say.
For us it's dimerent.
We've all changed since Cuba.
Even you.
- What do you know?
- l cary the heroin to Dallas.
You say how.
- Why are you doing this?
- Why do you think?
(phone ringing)
- Good evening, Mr. Kennedy.
- We almost had the mob,
now this.
M you have any idea where those leaks came from?
- Too many suspects.
What with all these... interagency feuds.
The CIA-
- Not your problem, Edgar.
- Security is my problem, sir.
And soon it could be yours.
We can't even get the files we need
from the Bureau of Narcotics or Customs!
-Anything new on Jimmy Homa? - l'm afraid not.
-And what about this, uh, french Canadian guy,
Lucien Rivard?
- We'reworking up our own file on him,
Mr. Kennedy.
Right now, ifyou want to know more about him,
talk to Narcotics.
(honking in the distance)
Narcotics Division, New Orleans
(background chatter)
(man): Leave it on the desk. Thanks.
- 'Moming, Jemrey.
- Rivard's file. Enjoy.
- Can l keep it?
- No.
- Why?
- l've been working on Rivard for so long,
l'm kind of possessive about my files.
- It'll let you know what we got but l can't release it.
- You aware ofwhat we're talking about here?
- Yeah, you still want to invade Cuba,
just to prove you can do it.
Ourjob is prosecuting traMcken, Mr. Bishop.
We don't do politics. - Let me handle that, son.
- We can't let Rivard break the law and do nothin'!
- l need time.
l know the mob's a plague...
but you don't wipe it out by starting WorId _r Ill.
- Go to the garage, pick up the car.
- Then?
- Drive to the hotel, Ieave the keys in the ignition.
Then go to bed.
Next day...
you head for Dallas.
- Where do l meet the two guys?
- They'll be waiting by the highway,
just before Baton Rouge.
Pick them up at the abandoned factoy.
- In Dallas what do l do?
- They'll tell you.
VMll you be careful?
- Most guys wory about the smack, not about me.
- If the cops pull you over, play dumb.
You found the car with the keys in it.
- l'll go down for theft.
- Better than for drug running.
Ok, get going!
- Rivard, uh, is a nice guy.
But Narcotics, they want him.
And what they want, they get.
-Are you dumping him?
- Well, it's nothing personal,
but business is business.
- What do you mean, business is business?
Rivard trusts me.
- l don't want him to tweak, undentand?
Do the deal the same as always.
- See, Rivard will be our saviour.
Sacrificing himself like fucking Jesus.
- Hmm.
- l won't be a part of that.
Sory.
- Yes, you will.
-And the horse should be on time in Dallas...
and that's that.
Montreal, summer 1963
- The CIA sent Oswald to Montreal toexpose him,
to be seen as an activist.
That's part of their plan. - No, no, no, that's crazy.
Montreal is our safe haven to set up our deals.
The drug comes to Montreal from Marseille.
The CIA shouldn't do that.
l'll talk to Bishop. - Hewon't do anything.
- Fair Play for Cuba, sir?
- Oswald is not one ofours. He's a piece ofthe CIA cake.
Dm't worry,
he'll be ever_here.
And all we have to do is play cool
and get on the train at the right time.
- l'd like to see some ID, sir.
- Of coune.
- Lee Harvey Oswald? - That's correct.
- Good afternoon, sir. Spare some change?
Thanks, sir. God bless you.
- You'll makefive trips before November.
-Why five?
- It's less risky to split the run.
Can't get insurance for that.
(sighing)
Three trips down. Rose has two left.
- You fucking her?
- Come on, Paul.
-You slept with her.
(chuckling)
-Are you shafting the CIA
and stepping up US deliveries
while they're busy with Castro?
An extra few runs, huh?
Cause if so, screw you!
lt's my ass in Laredo.
- The price for Castro has gone up.
_y up.
He's careful since the Bay of Pigs.
- The killers aren'tAmerican.
- There aren't any killers.
They're soldiers. It's a war.
Do you have the documents? The tickets?
- Ifyou're playing me..
l'll find out.
l can talk to Marcello too.
- The CIAwants a closed circuit.
Bishop to you, you to me, me to Marcello.
Why're you worried?
- It's too much heroin.
Even for whacking Castro. Plus, shipping to Dallas...
- The contract calls foryou to deliver guns to Cuba,
and H to Dallas.
The CIA has signed om on it.
We have total impunity.
The narcs won't tomedo the Cuba mission by busting us.
- Do you trust Bishop?
Do you believe the CIA?
- Bishop's straight, he's clean.
We need him. We have to cover him.
Then, once the mission's been completed...
ciao!
- You'll stop delivering?
- l'll stay in the background.
That prick Valachi will squeal to the McClellan Commission.
And Bobby will win.
- l'm done for this year. l'm going back to Montréal.
Already?
l've done my part.
Be careful.
- Oui...
_shington, September 1963
McClellan Senate Select Committee
- Did you say Cosa Nostra?
-Yes, sir.
- What do those words mean exactly?
- Literally? ''This thing of ours.''
Cosa Nostra is ''our thing.''
- So it's another name for the mafia?
-Yes and no.
Mafia is Sicilian.
Cosa Nostra
is ''our thing.'' -An American mafia?
-You could say that.
- Is, uh... Carlos Marcello
a member of Cosa Nostra?
-Yes, sir.
- Is Santo TraMcante a member too?
- Yes, he is.
-Andwhat about Johnny Roselli?
-Yes, sir.
- Jimmy Homa? - Mm-hmm.
- Do you know Paul Mondolini?
- He's a Corsican friend of ours.
- What does he do, this friend?
- He helps with imports.
- You mean drugs.
He helps you import them into US territory.
-Yes, he does.
- Would you speak louder for the benefit of the recording?
- Sometimes...
... he does big, big imports.
They say ''French Connection.''
He owned nightclubs in Cuba.
Like, uh, ''El Morocco.''
- But hewasn't the sole owner, was he?
- No, sir. He had a partner.
Another Frenchy.
Rivard...
something.
- Lucien Rivard?
- Bingo.
- Was he a big or a small guy in Cosa Nostra?
- Could not have been in Cosa Nostra!
He's not Italian!
An_ay, with him,
it ain't a matter of rank.
Rivard...
just smart fucking guy.
Excuse my French. (laughing)
- Mr. Cohen?
-Yes.
- There's some extra bit of mail here
comin' forya. - Coming.
Domaine Idéal, Chomedey, Quebec
Border Crossing, Laredo, Texas October 10, 1963
(car horn honking)
(woman singing)
(children laughing)
(singing)
(car homs honking)
- There's that Impala. Gotcha.
(singing)
(horn honking)
- Where you folks headed? - Montreal.
- Please pull up over there, sir.
- Yep.
- Step out of the car and open the trunk.
- Yeah.
We'll eat in Dallas.
- Got any alcohol? - No, sir.
- Take this over.
Take that stum out.
- l wouldn't figure you for a guy who likes pottey.
T6 pounds of heroin _35 million US
- Why the car seat?
- The smack was in cans welded under the fins.
l don't understand.
- Didn't you check?
- The Colombians loaded the car.
l wasn't there.
l'm just as pissed om as you.
- We have histoy, Paul.
ltwas Marcello, right?
- Noonewants to hurtyou.
Or me.
- l get it.
l just lost a friend, right?
- The stock was in the car. l left.
No one knew.
- Yourwife knew.
- No, she didn't know anything.
- She didn't?
- l didn't tell her.
(sighing)
- They paid me.
l was making a run, that's all.
She didn't know.
- Who paid you?
You're screwed eitherway.
lfyou don't talk,
l'll indictyourwife too.
lt was Rivard.
(radio): ... in the 1960 presidential campaign,
Mr. Kennedy filled the ai_aves with what he called
''his need for strong Ieadership,
the need togofo_ard with vigour.''
lfwe examine President Kennedy's handling
of his legislative pr_rams for his first three years,
his _960 campaign cries are more applicable today
than three years ago.
Mr. Kennedy asked Congress
for an Alliance for--
(Paul sighing)
- Why?
- Necessity.
-Are you planning to frame eveybody, Carlos?
(laughing) - Come on.
Caron needs a French Canadian. - l'm involved.
- Forget it.
The narcs caught Rivard.
They're happy.
- Have you fed Customs?
(Carlos laughing)
- l feed only my family.
(Paul sighing)
- Now what about Dallas?
-Ah, Dallas.
lt's up to you.
- Up to me?
Up to me?!
Fuck you, Carlos!
- Bobby Kennedy is happy with the catch.
And that buys us time.
Listen to me.
l ate pasta with Luciano,
l did business with Lansky.
l leamed from the best!
Fuck you, Frenchies.
We got something to do right here in the States.
And ifto do that...
l gotta sacrifice Rivard,
that's what l gotta do.
Right now...
you have one choice to make.
Only one.
Am l your best friend,
or, uh, is Rivard?
Paul, you have an important meeting.
Don't miss it.
Hmm?
And Basin Street
ls the street
Where all the boys and the good folks meet
Down in New Orleans
ln the land ofdreams
And you never know how nice it seems
And just how much it really means
(laughter) You're dear to me
Yes siree
Dear to me Yes siree
Can't you see baby...
- We'll have three guys.
EURtienne, Max and Ladislas.
- Roselli wants to come.
- That's impossible.
- l told him, but he insists.
- Either they do it, orwe do.
- Look, it's their dime.
-Alright, butjust him.
lf he gets caught, tough.
Guerini got a call from New York.
Bonanno's worried about you two.
- Lucien has contacts in the Canadian government.
They eat out of his hand.
l'm ok. As long as l can go back to France...
- Who's the spook?
- Omald.
He's a pigeon.
For him the hit's a pretext,
and Castro's declaration of war on the US
an excuse to invade the island.
Here.
The passports, plane tickets...
Eveything you need.
- Shit, we're on!
Montreal, November 1963
- l like the view.
You screwed me in Texas. Thanks.
- It wasn't me. - Then who?
- Someone tipped Narcotics.
- They didn'tjust tip them,
they changed the hiding spot in the car.
l was dumb enough to trust you. Mea culpa.
- You planned one run too many.
You took advantage of us.
Admit it.
We're moving our operations to PunNakarta.
- Ifwe send men to Indonesia, they'll be slaughtered.
What's with Paul?
- Soon they'll link Mondolini to Laredo.
You on one end, him on the other.
Maybe Laredo was rigged to distract the FBl.
- By who?
Why?
- Someone you know is playing a dangerous game.
- Sure, you.
Now we're expendable.
- l didn't arrange it.
The driven, the car, the Mexicans.
- You couldn't keep yourword,
so you sold us.
- You got something new?
- Yeah.
Um... Melba Christine Marcades, alias Rose Cheramie.
She's probably a courier.
- That's it?
- Well... l've been wasting my time
tying to make connections between, uh...
well, between these and those.
- 'Cause now we got connections, do we?
- l know whatyou're thinking about.
This guy here--
- Clay Shaw?
He's a former CIA field oMcer.
- _it now. Now, Shaw used aliases
when he talked to Guerini in Marseille.
- What for?
- Uh...
l don't know yet.
Maybe just for intel.
- That's not yourjob, is it?
- Why? Because me knowing the criminals
are on the federal payroll is a little above my pay grade?
ls that right, boss? Look, this guy, Oswald,
if he's the one who's supposed to kill Castro,
how come he's so damned exposed eveywhere?
You'd think he was pemorming on the Ed Sullivan Show,
for fucksake.
- That's enough, Jemrey. - l may not be smart enough
to be in the CIA,
but when it comes to dirty politics,
l'm not blind.
- Listen, you concentrate
on these guys instead of those. You got that?
Now, we got charges on Rivard, right?
What about Mondolini? - Nothing yet.
- Yeah.
Have you found the informant?
_e_rev?
- No.
- Well...
You let me know.
- It was Marcello.
- Why would he set you up?
- Take a stroll in Ponchartrain.
Marcello dominates the anti-Castro gang.
That's his clan.
You've lost control.
- How do you know?
- l have ears to hear and eyes to see.
Marcello and TraMcante are still pissed over the Bay of Pigs.
They'll link us cause of the guns.
And they need Mondolini's labs in Marseille.
And you guys...
As long as Rockefeller saves his Cuban nickel holdings,
nothing else matters.
Hmm?
- Kennedy plans to legislate against nickel stockpiling.
He's taking on Rockefeller.
-At home it's one thing, abroad another.
You Yanks are greedy.
Think l'm stupid?
Your money was in Miami. You didn't lose much.
- We lost the future, Maurice.
- Tell me what you know.
- Marcello's preparing a big job.
So big he sold me to the narcs...
and Mondolini didn't tip me om.
(door opening and closing)
- Rose Cheramie?
Jemrey Cohen, Narcotics.
No, don't get up, don't get up.
- Now what?
- l want to thank you for meeting with me.
You know this man?
-Am l supposed to?
- How about him?
VMth them you speak French.
Still working for Jacob Rubinstein?
- Jack's protected by the Dallas police.
His club's a hangout for_shington big shots.
l admit it,
l sometimes sleep with the chief of police.
(sniMing) Is that a crime?
- You seem to do
a lot of travelling bemeen New OrIeans and Texas.
What's that about?
Fuckin' another cop?
- Why? Do you want me to stop by your place too?
Visiting friends.
- Can l have their names?
- What name do you use
when you bring a girl to a motel?
Mr. Smith?
- You diabetic?
(sniMing)
How long you been using?
Rivard is gonna be charged
with importing heroin into the United States.
You know that.
What are you doing here, Rose?
- New Orleans?
Music...
lt's the best place
in the world.
- You make a lot of money runnin' dope.
A lot of money.
But it's dangerous.
- Thanks for the advice.
- Sticking needles in your ann, that's dangerous too.
You're gonna die young.
-Anything else? - Yeah.
lfyou get your memoy back...
Good day.
(door opening and closing)
(moaning and panting)
- Did you fuck Rivard?
- He didn't want me.
- He didn't?
(grunting)
(panting)
(turning on music)
How much do you want?
- Nothing.
l want you.
Thanks.
- Did you tell the cops about the car?
(Rose sighing)
- No.
l told'em nothing.
- l believe you.
A little present.
You'll go back to Dallas.
lt's too dangerous here.
Enjoy.
Dallas, November 1963
-Are we alone?
- Yeah, l'm all set. l gotwhat l need.
- Good boy.
- But, see, what l don't understand is,
why don'twejust take care of Bobby?
- Cut that d_'s tail,
he's still barking. Cut his head om,
and he's done.
- So tell me, who's gonna shoot? - Not your fucking business.
All you got to do is bring the gun to the sucker
and we'll be okay.
- What m someone sees me?
- Ifthat happens, get the gun and shoot yoursem.
Omald will know what to dowith the gun.
lt's not your business.
Then we'll be done
with those fucking Mick bastards.
Once that fucking Kennedy's dead,
we're back in business.
See you next week. (rattling)
- Rose, what the- - What the fuck
she's doing here? - Nothing.
- She was listening! - Nah.
She must've just passed out. - Passed out?!
- No! (screaming)
-Ah, shit.
- You think she's dreaming now? (whimpering)
Stand! - No, no...
(cying) Get up.
-Ah! (sobbing)
- Mertz said he'd wait on the third floor.
(train passing by)
We'll wait here.
- Eveything okay?
- Yeah. It's all clear up there.
What do l have to do?
- You know how to use it? -Yeah, yeah.
The Marines taught me well.
- The gun will be behind the boxes.
Draw a target around the car...
and hit it.
The crowd will be huge.
So don't hurt anybody.
Just shoot a tire or the bumper.
- Okay.
- You take the shot and leave the gun behind.
Got it? - It's risky,
but the boss knows what he's doing.
- JFK needs that aborted coup.
You'll be a hero.
- What about my passport?
Ticket out?
- You'll get them afteryou take the shot.
Texas Theatre, one o'clock.
- Why not now?
- You think l'm going to let you leave here
caying evidence in your pocket?
Be smart, Lee.
l'll get them at the theatre.
ldiot.
Eunice, Louisiana, November 20, 1963
- They're gonna...
- What?
- They're gonna kill the president.
- Come on, sweet pea, let's go.
l'm gonna take you to the hospital, all right?
Come on, it's gonna be all right.
Let's go.
- l was at Ruby's club.
l heard them talking about killing the president.
That's why l was beaten so bad.
They tried to kill me to keep me quiet.
- Rose...
- Please, you gotta believe me. Please!
- l'm afraid l can't.
- You're part of the cover-up, aren't you?
- Rose, l've heard this stoy so many times,
it's my bread and butter.
Some days, eveybody l see tells me that same stoy.
Now how is that possible? - It's true, l tell you!
lt's all true! - No, it's not.
lt's something... you thought you heard.
You're sick, Rose. Paranoid.
l'm gonna cure you.
Dallas, Texas, November 22, 1963
(man): We love you! (woman): President, we love you!
(announcer): The motorcade begins the __-mile ride
to the Dallas Trade Mart, where the president
is to deliver a major address.
(music)
(radio)_. Although the president is running behind schedule,
he pauses momentarily to shake a few hands...
(people cheering)
(dog barking)
(whimpering) - Shhh. ..
(ba_ing excitedly)
Don't forget to feed my babies. - VMll do.
(gunfire)
(radio): It... it... it appears
as though something has happened
in the motorcade route. Something - l repeat -
has happened in the motorcade route!
... the hill, alongside Elm Street,
there by the Simmons Freeway.
(people screaming)
Just a moment, please.
Something has happened in the motorcade route.
Parkland Hospital... (screaming)
(distant sirens)
(screaming)
... The president's car is now going past me.
The limousine is now sailing at a very high rate of speed!
Secret Servicemen standing up in the limousine!
They are armed with submachine guns!
lt appears as though someone in the limousine
might have been hit by the gunfire!
The presidential car coming up now!
We know it's the presidential car!
l can see Mrs. Kennedy's pink suit!
There's a Secret Serviceman spread-eagled over the car!
We understand Governor...
(screaming) (sobbing)
Dorval Airport, Montreal November 22, 1963
CIA, Langley, Virginia November 24, 1963
-As always, democracy finds its strength in the continuity
of the presideny. Lyndon B. Johnson
becomes the 36th President of the United States
just 99 minutes
after his predecessor's life had ebbed away.
- To pay their last respects to the martyred president,
who lay in state
in the Rotunda ofthe Capitol. (phone ringing)
President Lyndon B. Johnson placed a wreath
in the name ofthe nation. (ringing)
As the world and the nation mourn
and the county's flags were at half-mast...
- Yeah?
- You'll fly out in a month.
We'll meet up in Indonesia.
- Mm-hmm.
l told you something was up.
_s it Marcello?
We'll talk there.
Who'll be there?
- Just like old times.
Except for the continent.
(_V;. Another camera recorded the deed in slow motion.
Thefilm is stopped as the shot is fired
by Jack Ruby.
As the president was laid to rest,
an eternal flamewas lighted by Mrs. Kennedy,
a tower of strength...
Jack Ruby...
(Rivard)_. Ruby killed Omald. Impossible to read Bishop.
Paul's playing dead...
Ha! Ha! l'd been hung out to dry.
Denpasar, Indonesia winter 1964
Cuba, Indonesia... The Americans had
a voracious thirst
for new trade opportunities. Only one solution:
collaborate, stay in the game.
- Stop!
He's neutral, from Canada.
- Lucien, come and join us. Have a seat.
Careful, you'll kill someone.
_200,OOO US.
- Okay.
But with your men.
l need them.
They know the county.
- My men aren't going to die for the CIA.
l need the guns for our struggle.
Yourwar is yourwar.
We know what happened at the Bay of Pigs.
- They're not gonna budge.
- Fine.
Guns for smack.
Keep your men. He'll play politics.
- Do you all agree?
- No way.
- Deal. - No way!
- It's theirwar. Screw politics!
- Gentlemen, outside!
We'll be back in a minute.
All right, listen.
Marcello fucked us all. All right?
- The narcs were on my tail. And yours.
- You're still a bastard.
- Stop it! That's enough!
- Marcello is shit and l'm stupid, right?! Right?!
- Cut the crap. l'm the stupid one here!
l was sure Marcello's plan would fail.
That l'd get out clean, that you'd catch on,
that the CIAwas as powe_ul as they claim!
l'm the jerk! Aren't l?
- l'm your ticket out of the States.
- You know Marcello! What choice did l have?
- You knew about Laredo!
- Okay, okay.
lfyou ty to fool us again, you're both fucking dead.
Your families are fucking dead
and all your fucking friends are fucking dead.
- Right. Beg your pardon...
l have US guns to sell here.
French guns too. Brand new. Western guns.
They'll kill a Commie from 3 miles. Easy.
Sory.
- What?
(thunder rumbling)
- They're going to extradite me to the US.
- They've sacrificed you.
l'm next in line.
Let's negotiate.
- Negotiate what?
- Protection - for what we know.
Kennedy...
We know who and why. The Yanks have to hush it up.
- Think you can blackmail the USA?
You're dreaming!
- Come to France.
VMth De Gaulle we'll have it cushy.
- l don't want to live my life in a gilded cage,
nibbling croissants.
When l feel closed in,
l die.
Now that l'm in shit, you're dropping me?
- l told you, Laredowas one too many.
- What can you dofor me?
- Nothing. - Neither here nor in the US?
- l can't stop your extradition if Bobby Kennedy demands it.
- So l'm all on my own?
- Use your Canadian government contacts to block it.
- l need my dough from Miami.
- There l can help you.
Maybe.
- Much too kind.
June 19, 1964
Bordeaux Prison, Montreal
(door buzzing)
(Rivard): Friends, money-
they only last so long.
l quickly realized that Bobby Kennedy
would come out on top.
Bishop had probably leaked the information to the RCMP.
The consequence?
My friends who financed the Liberal Party
found themselves in hot water
and the Minister of Justice was forced to resign.
-Any chance Rivard could be a Communist?
- He could be whateverwewant him to be.
We know he's friends with a french activist
close to the fLQ. - The what?
- l guess you'd translate it
as the Frmtfor the Liberation of Quebec.
- Apparently,
Rivard smuggled arms in Cuba
with members of the OAS.
- Yeah, we tracked that. And his ties to the mob.
Mr. Hoover?
- Yes, l'm here.
Don't be surprised
ifAttorney General Kennedy asks for his extradition.
- The RCMPwill be happy tooblige.
(Rivard): My on1y chance
was to break out.
l had otherfriends.
Little guys who worked at the prison.
Little guys are often more reliable than big shots.
Bordeaux Prison, Montreal March 2, 1965
RIVARD ESCAPES!
(man): It's not so much that Rivard may be there,
although he may be.
NO SIGN Of RIVARD
But the tip may be there that wins Me $15,OOO rmard.
(Rivard): Three months on the lam, hiding out,
spreading rumours to cover my tracks...
l'd been a player - now l was a fugitive.
They finally found me
and put me on thefirstflight to Texas.
l was trading Canadian handcums forAmerican ones.
Much heavier ones, in terms of consequences.
Montreal, June 16, 1965
- Lucien Rivard, you are now in the custody of the US Marshals.
- She knew the president would be shot, she knew Ruby.
- Oh, come on, Jemrey.
- Oswald was at the Carousel Club.
She saw him! - She's a heroin addict.
- She's involved with Rivard.
- Which is exactly where you should be focusing -
not the Kennedy assassination.
You leave that to the _men Commission.
- Rivard's a part of that, dammit! l'm sure ofit.
- Christ, evey time you stumble into CIAbusiness,
l get a fucking phone call from _shington.
Now, the only truth around here
is that Rivard is gonna be convicted for drug smuggling.
After that, it's gonna be case closed and business as usual.
So do me a favour-
get thatjunkie out of here.
- l'll take care of it.
- l need to speak to Maurice Bishop.
Right now.
-Ajury having found the defendant, Lucien Rivard,
guilty of conspiracy to violate the Federal Narcotics laws,
the court sentences the defendant
to a fine of _20,OOO and a term of20 yean,
to be served in a federal penitentiay.
- Okay.
Laredo, Texas November 12, 1965
(reporters clamouring)
Rivard Guilty: 20 years and $20,OOO
Federal Penitentiay, Atlanta, Georgia
(gate clanging shut)
(keysjingling)
(gate clanging)
- Further down. Keep moving.
(gate clanging)
(toilet flushing)
There. Second one.
- Hey, Frenchy.
You like Impalas?
l love Impalas.
- What's your name?
Fuck om.
- It's this cell here, sir.
- Rivard...
he's a big catch.
- l want Marcello and Tramicante, as well.
Clock's ticking.
-And Homa.
- Homa's as good as convicted.
Now get me indictments
for Marcello and Tramicante.
You know damn well the issues we're talking about here.
- Tell me how l can do the work if the CIAwon't cooperate.
They're not going to leave you alone.
You know that, don't you?
They already killed one president.
-And they won't have a problem killing another!
- Who are you?
A cop?A lawyer?
- We'll talk tomomow.
- Why? - Tomorrow.
(gate clanging shut)
(_V)_. ... thus becoming thefirst black cabinet member.
A sound decision that should help relieve the racial tension
that is still running high ever since the destruction
ofthe Watts ghetto--
(keysjingling)
(PA announcement)
- Jemrey Cohen,
Narcotics Bureau.
- Where'd you learn French?
- My mother.
- Alright.
What do you want, Jemrey Cohen?
Besides flashing your smug rookie-cop smile.
- OfFicially l'm here to close the...
- The real reason.
- To indict you for plotting
the assassination of the US president.
- l see.
Your mom should have also taught you how to think.
That's FBl jurisdiction.
- It's myjob. - Cut the crap.
You're investigating illegally.
The _rren Commission's over.
No way the narcs would send some greenhom
to indict me for Kennedy's murder.
You want to saveAmerica, and you want my help.
Are you crazy?
Do you know her?
She told me eveything.
(distant laughter)
(distant voices)
(ring tone)
(phone ringing)
- Gimme the operator.
(phone ringing)
(ringing)
-Allô?
- Come get me, Paul.
- Rose?
Rose?
- They'll kill me.
- Hang on.
(distant sirens)
- Where are you? - New Orleans.
- l told you not to go back.
That's Marcello's tum.
- It's not him l'm scared of.
- Get out ofthere.
l'll wire some cash.
- l can't go outside. l can't!
- Rose!
(cying)
- Get me out of here!
(sobbing)
- The truth...
it lies in the mind of the listener.
lfyou can create truths
that resemble what really happened,
you have absolute power.
Listen to me.
Between my words,
and tell me if it's true or real.
l'm here because some asshole
spun a tale and the juy believed him.
And now some crazy narc
thinks l'm dumb enough
to assassinate the US president.
Your boss know you're here?
- Do you have any ties to the FLQ separatists?
- You rookie! - Communist?
- You have no leads,
so you cast around blindly.
You have nothing.
Lewis McVMllie?
Do you know him?
You were in Cuba together, you both worked forTramicante.
VMth Nonnan Rothman.
Valachi at the McClellan Commission...
Ring a bell?
Do you know where she is?
- You're here because of her?
ls she in trouble?
Your anns dealing...
- It's your government that sells arms, not me.
lfyou want names...
- l do. Who?
Lee Harvey Oswald?
A friend?
- What?
- He was seen in Montreal.
You've never dealt in weapons, Mr Rivard?
For the FLQ or anyone else?
- l'm in entertainment.
Clubs, casinos, but no guns.
- Ruby got you out ofjail in Cuba.
- Lucien. Finally got you out of here.
-You want a statement? You'll get one.
Write eveything down.
The oil men, Cuban nickel, guns...
who sells what to who, and how.
l'm not holier than the pope.
l do business globally.
Why shouldn't l? Because it's wrong?
Do you know what wrong is, Mr Cohen?
Do you really know?
Write eveything.
Then tell your bosses
so they can testi_ before Congress.
- Eveyone was in on the Kennedyjob,
except you.
ls that it?
- Go take a break.
Think it over and come back tomomow.
(radio): ... guns brought out of Indonesia
by Western diplomats and independent travellers.
Communists, Red sympathizers and their families
are being massacred by the thousands.
The murder campaign became so brazen...
- Bobby will become president.
Rivard will be indicted. You'll be next.
You need me more than ever.
- Who'll take the fall for Dallas?
The CIA? FBl?
The oil cartel? The anns industy?
They're glad to have a Texan as president.
Kennedy made a lot of enemies.
- You have five minutes to name your mob contacts.
After that, good luck.
- Roselli.
Two Hungarians.
EURtienne.
- l know about them.
- Mertz.
- Gcod.
lsn't there a girl too?
Close to you?
- l told her to keep quiet, but...
she's naming people.
Rose.
Rose Cheramie.
- l can't say more than l've already told you.
When l met Ferrie, he was... drunk
and saying stupid things about Laredo
and how guys had been conned.
- Did he mention my name?
Whalen.
- He said mo Frenchies, but no names.
Said it had to be done
for something more important than that.
l told him l could use the money,
'cause l was on the run.
(sighing)
Ferrie assured me l could earn big bucks
and promised to fly me out of the county.
- Edward Whalen,
know him?
- What did he say?
- He knows about the Laredo car.
He ditched a similar car in Louisiana.
Same make, same model.
He knows Clay Shaw, Ferrie...
lf evey idiot knows about the Laredo car
how come l don't?
- That idiot heard from other idiots who worked for Marcello.
That's all.
Whalen was hired to bump om a lawyer here in New Orleans.
- What's his name?
- Garrison.
-And the car?
- Just a coincidence.
- Some coincidence.
Speaking of coincidence, a narc came to see me.
- His name?
- Cohen. Jemrey Cohen.
- Mm.
- Do l mention you?
- Who else? -A girl.
She worked at Ruby's.
Went by the name of Rose Cheramie.
l don't know ifyou can help her,
but she was also involved,
by coincidence.
- Paul mentioned her.
- Paul...
- We gotta talk, son.
Look, l didn't bring my weay bones down toAtlanta
to play games.
What you're doing is illegal.
And you've been doing it all on your own.
Now you're a suspect.
-Asuspect? Me?
(stuttering)
l'm just tying to find out the truth!
l don't care if they buy it. l...
l gotta know for me.
- Do you know the real meaning of ''national security''?
- l suppose l do.
- You suppose you do. (laughing)
Stop the car.
- What?
- l said stop the goddamn car.
Just tum here, right over there.
Give me your badge. - Huh?
- Give me your badge.
Now give me your gun.
This car...
is our county.
What county's that?
What's the matter? You don't know?
- The United States ofAmerica.
- Right!
And your gun... is the mob.
The mafia, the Cosa Nostra, the fucking spaghetti-eaters.
l mean, you call it whateverway you want,
l don't give a shit.
But they're your gun. Got that?
- Fine. So what's my badge?
- Your badge is us.
And the FBl and the CIA and the Secret Service
and all those sworn to protect the people in the car.
Got that?
-Yes.
- Except the car is stalled.
- Ifyou say so.
- This fucking car
isAmerica,
before those shitheads killed Kennedy!
We were all at the top.
The people in the car were safe,
and the carwas travelling down the highway...
... to goddamn Camelot.
- Mr. Thompson--
- l'm not finished yet, son.
You rememberwhat l said?
We do ourjob,
and thatjob is worth more than our lives.
Now Kennedy's dead.
The car's rollin' down the road...
but there's nobody drivin'.
And the wind's blowin' so hard,
and pretty soon, the badge is gonna fall om,
maybe the gun's gonna fall om, maybe both.
So you see, we need to secure our agencies
in order to secure the safety of the people in the car.
-Yes.
- We can't amord to have traitors in our ranks.
- Mr. Thompson--
-Are you working for Rivard, son?
- Pardon me?
- l know you are.
- No, l am not.
- Obviously...
you wouldn't be able to say it.
- l'm sory...
- So am l, son.
Marcello was right.
He was eatin' at the bumet.
- Later, they asked me
about... Jim Garrison.
(keysjingling)
Tried to convince me to shoot him.
(gate opening) - Okay, shut up.
- But l couldn't do it.
- Rivard!
You got a visitor.
(gate unlocking)
- The narcs?
- Forget them.
- Cohen?
-Your case is closed.
- Thanks to you?
- Did Whalen confinn?
- Yeah.
- Here's the situation.
Bobby will be president.
He'll indict his brother's assassins.
Cuba will be forgotten.
General Almeida will remain in Castro's shadow.
-And you guys?
- We've a war in Vietnam, interests in Indonesia.
- Bobby will stop the war.
- l'm not here to talk politics.
l'm giving you the situation as it is, how it'll be.
- Mm-hmm.
Does Bobby think l'm one ofhis brother's assassins?
- The Iron Curtain won't last 20 years.
The Middle East will be the next hot spot,
the worst one ever.
You have resources.
- l asked you a question. Answer me.
- l did.
-You want me to shut up, right?
- l'm omering you peace ofmind.
You'll open doors inAsia for us.
l need you.
The reason you're in here can be your best alibi,
as long as l plead your case with Bobby.
Marcello fingered you.
Ergo, you weren't part of the plot.
- You can't cover this up forever.
You thought Cuba was complicated...
_it for theArabs.
- l'm not asking your opinion on our strategy. Yes or no?
-America will never be safe again.
You're too spread out.
l plot my own course,
and l stick to it.
- You're a cowboy, Frenchy. Apoor, lonesome cowboy.
- You're damn right.
But not as poor as you think.
Maurice?
Tell me you didn't know.
- Hmm?
- Even in the Far West there was trust.
Did you know Marcello sold me?
- Those who make mistakes must live with them.
- How many upstandingAmericans did you kill to hide yours?
- That depends how you define upstanding American.
-And Rose?
- l did what was best. For the good of eveyone.
(music playing on car radio)
(whimpering)
- No!
(engine revving) (screaming)
l've got the blues...
Three years later
(distant screaming)
(announcer): ... Senator Kennedy...
Oh, my God...
Senator Kennedy has been shot
by another man,
a Kennedy campaign manager.
... shot in the head.
- Hold it right there! Keep people awayfrom him!
Keep people away from him!
(indistinct)
- Yeah... - Is eveybody safe?
Robert P. Kennedy was shot on June 5, 1968.
Arrested in Paris in 196T, Mondolini was charged with
importing into the USA 10 tons of heroin worth _9 billion.
He was murdered in 1985.
Lucien Rivard was released in 19T5 after serving 10 yean in theAtlanta
and Lewisburg federal penitentiaries.
He returned to Quebec just as hearings opened
at the Probe into Organized Crime.
Aleading figure in the histoy of crime in theAmericas,
he was never called to testify at the Crime Probe.
He died in 2002 at age 86,
after spending 30 years out of the public eye.
Subtitling: CNST, Montreal
Translation: Robert Gray, Kinograph
Sous-titrage réalisé avec la participation de Téléfilm Canada.