I had it all set up.
I found the straw man.
I sat him in the saddle and pushed him forward.
I thought I would control everything from a distance.
I wouldn't give the key to my house to a burglar.
-What did the prosecutor say? -An accident.
Ex-judges are often revenge targets.
Retaliation, rival gangs...
She hadn't taken a tough case for years. No, I don't believe that theory.
I'll tell you now, Mr. Mayor,
my group didn't spend all that money for nothing.
The casino will go ahead.
This is a betrayal.
By voting against the casino, you betrayed me.
And Marseille.
You maybe, but not Marseille.
The city doesn't belong to you.
Okay.
A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
STRAW MAN
Costa, I want Barrès kicked off the Port Committee.
Okay.
I watched that boy grow up.
How could I have been so wrong?
I chose him to take my place.
And that's what he did.
Yes, that is what he did.
Why did you vote against selling the port?
Why not?
It could hold you back in the elections.
You know...
I don't care if he feels betrayed.
Anyway, that's what I wanted.
I usually like black, but it doesn't suit you.
-Not great. -Then don't look at me.
It's hard not to look at you, Barbara.
Why did you ask me to come with you?
You or somebody else, it didn't matter who.
I would have looked stupid by myself.
Shit, it's my boss.
Whether you tell him today or tomorrow, it makes no difference.
He's gonna kill me.
It's a fucking Renault Mégane. Who knows how much I'll have to pay?
You know the worst part?
With two watches you could have bought a car.
If he declares the car stolen for insurance purposes
and I give him five grand, could that work?
Where will you get five grand?
Another jewelry store.
Real smart. Great idea!
We just find another scooter, switch the plates,
find another jewelry store and help ourselves!
Think, Éric.
A robbery takes planning.
Sometimes, I swear...
What did you spend 20 years waiting for?
-My freedom. -In what way?
-You'll find out soon enough. -Is that a threat?
You decide, Mr. Mayor.
Barrès!
But it's ridiculous to give those run-down projects...
names like Laurel, Sweetbriar, Rose... that's a good one!
They're named after flowers.
Thanks, Mom, I know that.
But try smelling the air in Sweet Vale. It'll knock you out.
-So you want to write about the projects? -Yeah.
They're a big problem in Marseille.
-Just like everywhere else, right? -No.
Here, the projects are in the city.
Not on the edge, like Paris. That changes everything.
So why don't you write the article?
I don't want to use Dad's name.
It would suit Pharamond and his paper, but it would suck for me.
Well, I never wanted you to be a journalist, so...
I know. You made that very clear before I went to Canada.
Yes, because it means you'll have to follow your father's footsteps
into politics, and all that scheming...
You have to stop saying things like that, Mom.
-It's true. -Aren't I my own person?
I hope so.
We both know that some politicians are willing to fight for their ideas.
Just for an idea. An idea can be huge.
You talk like your dad. It's very noble.
And yes, I know he always says things like that
but you sound like a little girl who's besotted with her daddy!
You're the only one laughing here. Seriously!
Where are you going?
What's happening, man?
Don't worry, we're square now.
I told you, you should have lent me your car.
Let me go.
So you've got no wheels now? I'll make you a deal.
I don't want a deal. I'm in deep shit.
And I can get you out.
I'll replace your car,
set you up freelance and you can work for me.
No, man. I can't.
What do you mean, you can't?
You want me to kill that girl I saw you with?
Think about it.
Come on, let's go.
My question is simple.
Do you think I can stand in the elections?
And why not?
The lists are done. You chose Barrès.
People won't understand your change of heart.
-Even though he's a traitor? -A traitor to you, yes.
-But? -But the port isn't really the issue.
Of course it is. The port is Marseille's greatest asset.
Unless we develop it, we're finished.
-Without new investors... -Robert, we know that.
And we all agree with you.
But this is an election.
The campaign has started. It's a big risk.
If I don't stand, the mafia will take over the city.
Nobody, not even Barrès, has the balls to stand up to them.
But I do.
Okay, but I'm telling you, it's risky.
-And you think my chances are low? -They're zero.
Go on, get out.
Get lost.
Costa, wait.
Commission a poll.
If I stand, what would my score be?
-Robert, this is a terrible idea. -It's just a small risk.
It's much more than a risk. It's madness.
Go on.
You're usually better than that.
It's typical. When your stress goes up everything else droops.
I'll give you classic.
Lie down.
Taro's going to stand. You never should have told him.
He was on your side, now he's against you.
That was clumsy.
I have an idea to help you beat Taro.
Yeah? I'm listening.
It's a dirty move,
but if you lick me like that next time, I'll tell you.
Meaning?
I said next time.
And this?
I love your fingers.
Next time you should wear leather gloves.
Go on, tell me.
He's sick. You can spread the word.
-What's wrong with him? -I don't know. My husband told me.
He and the Mayor share a doctor.
Can you find out what he's got? Do a little digging?
Osmont won't say.
And your husband?
It will cost me a blowjob.
Another mojito, please.
So, any developments?
No, not really.
They all seem to be either yuppies or thugs.
Anyway, I'm sick of hooking up with guys for one night.
Oh, yeah?
Is that why you've gone back to girls?
You little minx!
-Bring back any memories? -Well...
-Still nothing? -No.
What you need is a real man.
Don't worry. I have one lined up.
-Really? Who? -Oh, I don't know.
Go on, spit it out.
Lucas Barrès.
That went well.
-You don't seem pleased. -Stop it, Barbara!
I told you, Lucas is like a big brother to me.
And you don't want him dating your best friend?
Best friend? Yeah, right!
-So I'm not your friend now? -Not if you sleep with Lucas.
Julia...
Come on, let's have some fun.
-Care to explain? -I don't know.
This is a betrayal.
By voting against the casino, you betrayed me.
And Marseille.
You maybe, but not Marseille.
The city doesn't belong to you.
Forget about Barrès.
He'll screw anything with a pulse.
I swear, he'll drop you like dirt.
Stop it.
Look, we're surrounded by guys, everywhere you look.
Okay, which one?
I bet you I can sleep with a guy.
Go on. Which one?
-The guy dressed in white, dancing. -Yeah?
I'll bang him right now!
So confident!
No, stop it!
I know who will do it.
Not you.
Who?
You'll see.
Congrats on the vote.
You should have seen Taro. He was furious.
If you wave the red rag
don't be surprised when the bull comes running.
Yeah, and now he's standing for Mayor again.
-You're kidding? -No.
If he stands, we can't take him out.
That's not the answer, anyway.
Yeah.
He's taking coke and everybody knows it.
We can't prove it. The elections are a month away.
A month to catch a cokehead? Easy.
I'll get him in eight days. Who's his supplier?
His driver, but I can't prove it.
Can we bring him down?
He's an ex-cop.
Why ex? Was he not cut out for the Force?
He was struck off for some reason. He's worked for the Mayor for ten years.
Okay. And the family?
-Whose, the driver's? -No, the Mayor's.
No, Ange, we don't touch them.
What do you mean?
We don't want a casino so we're putting you up for Mayor.
And you want to play nice? That's not how it works.
It's Taro I want.
Not his wife, not his daughter. I want Taro.
Julia: Éric, how are you? I'm worried about you.
Can I?
-You never said you were seeing Éric. -I'm not.
Sure, I slept with him, but only... three times.
-You shouldn't have hit him. -What was I supposed to do?
-Let him beat me up in public? -Calm him down.
-You saw how drunk he was. -So he was drunk.
I was drunk too, so don't be mad at me.
Why would I be mad at you?
For sleeping with you.
I'm not in the least bit mad at you. Quite the opposite.
Julia: Why won't you answer?
Are we done talking? Is it all over?
It's not like it really started.
You don't think making love...
We fucked. We didn't make love.
Do I get to know your name at least?
Julia.
Julia. Julia who?
Julia, the girl from the club.
That will do, won't it?
I suppose it will just have to.
Well, I've never been ditched like this before.
Here, in case you ever regret it.
Hi.
See you around.
So?
I don't remember his name!
How was it for you?
You remember that waiter with the nice ass?
No! Not the mojito guy. I don't believe it!
We ended up at his place, out of our minds.
We took molly.
No! Why do you take that shit?
-You should try it. -Éric.
Éric, can you call me back? I'm worried. Ciao.
-Julia, can I sleep in your bed? -Yeah.
-Mr. Mayor, anything to say? -Do you have a statement?
It's a murder.
The man who was killed was a developer,
working with us to regenerate the port.
Are you sure?
This murder shows what the people of Marseille can expect
if they make the wrong choice in the elections.
What do you mean?
Are you still supporting Lucas Barrès, Mr. Mayor?
Costa, when will you get the results of that poll?
I have the first estimate. It's bad.
-How much? -6%.
Thank you.
CALL MOBILE
Fred, let's go.
Vanessa? You called.
Bad news. He refused to tell me about Taro's illness.
-Did you give him a blowjob? -No.
Well, that's why.
I was wondering...
Do you think I can tell the press about his illness?
That's dangerous. It could put the voters on his side.
But you can put pressure on his family. It will knock him off balance.
Tell me, Vanessa...
What do you want from me, apart from my cock?
Why are you helping me?
You'll go far, so I'm backing the right horse.
No, our sales are falling. We need new blood.
Get a younger editorial team, that's what you should do.
We need to have lunch. See you later.
-What are you doing here? -I'll fuck whoever I want.
Not my friend.
Can I come in?
Promise you'll never tell him who I am.
Is that why you came?
Did he hurt you?
You hurt me.
I promise I won't say a word.
-Where are we meeting him? -On the water.
The water's a big place.
So, we gave your developer a good grilling.
That's good, very ghetto.
Yeah.
By the way, how much did we say?
30 grand?
I'll make you my partner.
That's your payment.
That's not what we agreed.
There's no middleman between us.
That leaves me too exposed.
So either I kill you... or I keep you.
Tomorrow morning go to Chez Scipion.
It's a café.
Jean-Louis will give you the address.
No need to introduce yourself. The owner knows about it.
There's a slot machine for you in there.
It's disguised as a pinball.
It brings in 1,500 euros a week.
I have 20 machines like that.
I don't collect the money. The owner does.
We split it, 50-50.
I'll give you my share for life.
If you die, it goes to your wife and kids.
Now we're partners.
Farid?
You can put in all the coins you like. It's just like pinball.
If you're a regular and you win,
you come to the counter and we settle up.
It's secure.
Fred, why would Lucas betray me?
There's no "would" about it. He did betray you.
-Want me to find out? -Yes, maybe.
What do your cop friends say about the developer?
They can't see how or why his murder is connected to the ghetto.
-It's the casino, obviously. -It's not been proven.
And the judge's death?
It's either an accident or a real class act.
No prints, no DNA, nothing.
Zero.
Zero!
No, we can't change the date.
Either we meet at yours or we go to Cavaillon.
You can take it or leave it. Understand?
I'll call you back.
What is it?
Sorry.
Did you know Robert was seriously ill?
It's a degenerative illness.
That's awful.
My God.
I can't believe it.
You can't tell anybody. Is that clear?
Julia must already know.
My God, that poor girl.
Cancel all my meetings tomorrow.
I need to take a walk.
How long since I saw you in this office?
Since my wife slept her way to the top.
But she was voted in.
It was just like what happened to you.
Give them an inch and you're fucked.
Traitors are all the same.
They suck you off, then they kill you.
That's what my wife wanted, but I'm not dead yet.
She got the job but not the man.
You know why the casino lost the Committee vote?
Yeah, Barrès.
With the help of Vanessa.
She's screwing that little lapdog who licks your ass.
When we married, I had no illusions about her.
But as for her...
I chose her because she looked good on my arm
and she got what she could out of me.
She can sleep with any jerk she wants.
I don't care.
But not Barrès.
Why didn't you tell me?
I tried to let you know.
But you were preoccupied.
You have to stand in the municipal elections.
Come on, Taro! Barrès didn't betray you by mistake.
My wife's been fucking him and they've been fucking you.
I don't believe it.
-What illness? -I don't know.
Barbara just said it was serious.
-But I would know... -No, Mom. Stop it.
He always hides any form of weakness.
He hides everything. He always has done.
But syringomyelia gets better over time.
Even when it's combined with a Chiari malformation.
Any pain in the neck?
No.
Just pins and needles in the hand.
You know what's coming.
It starts with paralysis of the left arm.
-Mrs. Morinière is still waiting. -Yes, I'll see her now.
-We can speak later. -Yeah.
Mrs. Morinière...
-Let's get dinner. -No, I don't feel like it.
They killed the port developer. That means they'll do anything.
-Who are "they"? -The mafia.
The guys who killed the developer
to scare people away from building the casino.
I'm the only one who can stop them.
If I do nothing, there will be a second developer, then a third...
Why does the mafia care?
Casinos... are the kiss of death for gambling rings and slot machines.
Robert.
The e-mail you received...
That article was to stop you from going ahead.
I know, but I'm doing it anyway.
-Even if... -Even if.
I'm worried about Marseille.
And I'm very worried about my wife.
Feeling guilty about something?
Maybe.
Because you didn't tell me?
Tell you what?
What are you talking about?
You're a tough nut to crack, alright.
Yeah. Just listen to this.
Hélène, I need to go to Paris. Book me a ticket.
The General Secretary is expecting me.
-Robert Taro. -Right.
Robert Taro is here.
-That way, sir. -Thank you.
We won't do it like that...
Remember the meeting in Blois?
That's exactly what I meant, yes.
Right.
Call me tomorrow.
-So, you're out to get Barrès? -Who told you that?
He did, believe it or not.
Perceptive man.
You've been helping the guy for ten years
and suddenly, just because of a vote, you change your mind.
Isn't that a little flimsy?
Excuse me.
Osmont: The test results are not good.
Look, I only have ten minutes.
And why do you care about Barrès? You won't even be around.
Oddly enough, I see things differently.
I love Marseille. I've run the city for 20 years.
Some people go into politics to get ahead,
or out of a lust for power, or any number of reasons.
I certainly started out that way.
It was what I wanted.
Then, eventually, you find your place. You don't want to go any higher.
For you it was the Élysée. For me Marseille is enough.
But what do you want, exactly?
Kick him out of the Party.
-So you can take his place? -So I can keep my own.
And your wife?
What does she think?
That's our business.
What are you doing here?
I need you to tell me the truth.
Robert will tell me eventually but he always sugarcoats things.
I don't want to waste time.
So what's going on?
Is it the cocaine?
Come with me.
When he had his car accident,
he was given powerful analgesics to ease the pain...
and morphine worked best.
But morphine is highly addictive, so next he moved on...
to cocaine, but he doesn't take it often.
But still, it's a stressful time for him...
If it's not cocaine, what is it?
It's the hand, Rachel.
You mean my hand?
Is it arthritis?
It's more than that.
Paralysis? I'll have to stop playing?
Yes.
I'm so sorry.
Thank you for telling me the truth.