CHARACTERS AND EVENTS IN THIS SERIES ARE COMPLETELY FICTIONAL,
ANY RESEMBLANCE TO ACTUAL PERSONS OR EVENTS IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL.
THE BUREAU
Guillaume Debailly.
D-E-B-A-I-L-L-Y.
Yes, that's him.
Nadia?
Here, Guillaume. - Who was on the phone?
I'm told you're a spy. I can't believe it.
I hear you recruited people in Damascus.
Those poor people will be arrested.
Hello, Henri?
And you wanted to recruit me too, right?
I got caught. My cover's blown.
Call the offices in Syria.
Cut all networks.
Shut them down, now!
I have to leave. - In the middle of the night?
I'd prefer to. I have an early start.
Have you seen In the Realm of the Senses?
No.
A whore?
A woman storming away from her lover?
A woman with a plane to catch?
She had no luggage.
She didn't look angry.
She didn't look like a whore.
Hello. Sorry.
Here are your bugs.
I'm going home. See you at work.
Don't worry, I'll go via the buffer zone.
Say the Algerians do have Cyclone.
He was drunk, gave himself away, or something on him did. Whatever.
He'd go from the police station to a counter-espionage unit.
The Algerians are faced with a drunk man
who confirms he works for the DGSE.
A few hours later, Cyclone sobers up.
He calms down.
From there, two possibilities.
Either he continues to give himself away or he stops.
If he continues, it's a disaster, he'll tell all.
Who's on standby? - We've informed three.
We contacted a fourth who hasn't turned up yet.
Good.
So, he gives up his sources
and all the operations he had access to before he left.
How long was he at the DGSE before starting his mission?
Sixteen months. - Sixteen months.
Sixteen months of access to confidential data.
He reveals protocols, methods.
Why would he do that?
That's the question we have to ask.
Where did we go wrong?
During the recruitment, the monitoring, the training?
When did we let this happen?
A traitor.
Second possibility.
He's sober, he retracts. He said all that for kicks.
Now, the Algerians are sceptical.
They don't want to give up a big fish. They'll investigate.
That's where the cover comes in.
They'll ask about his work.
No problem there. It's a financial consulting firm
with real offices, real activity,
with real clients.
What about his place? - It's his.
As you know, a break-in would only support his cover story.
He has a real life.
OK.
This is where we must be careful.
We can't arouse their suspicions with our actions in the field.
For example, our people at the embassy should act like nothing's happened.
Any suspicious action will confirm we've lost an agent.
They know?
Yes. - They must act like they don't.
I want us to examine the possibility of an abduction.
His cell phone's still at the police station,
but no one saw him leave.
But, do you think...
I don't. But I want us to look into it.
Check all the cases of agent abduction in Algiers.
If there's a precedent, we can't ignore it.
OK?
To recap...
You lost him twice, he broke two bugs,
he slept at the hotel and didn't hide.
And he didn't seem bothered by us locating him.
Was he alone at the hotel? - We don't know.
Lots of comings and goings.
There's a bar there, too.
If you want us to go further, no problem.
But then it becomes surveillance.
Our job is to check
no one identifies him. If you want more, just say.
I can tell you who he's fucking,
how many orgasms, if the girl has her period,
if she takes it up the ass or gets fingered.
No problem, we can do it.
Well, I'll let you know.
I have an appointment with Mr Duflot.
Thanks.
Dr Balmès?
Hello, swipe your badge.
Hello. I'm Rim Belghiti, Mr Duflot's secretary.
Hello. - Go ahead.
How was security? - Fine.
I feel naked without my phone and tablet.
You can't get in with a computer or a phone. Do you know why?
No.
Remote activation can transform them into a microphone.
I see.
You get used to being naked, you'll see.
Crisis Room 1
Visitors without a badge must report to the Floor Supervisor
Very few people have access here. It's the only way into our wing.
If you're asked what department you work for, don't answer.
Here.
Go ahead.
This is the secret service HQ. The Bureau.
Here's your office.
It used to be where the handlers working 24/7 could rest,
but we converted it into an office for you.
Every night, you must destroy your documents
in the shredder.
Or store them in this closet safe protected by a code.
Your desk and trash must be empty.
Maintenance and cleaners aren't allowed in.
You clean your own office.
All the numbers are there.
Door, closet, telephone. - OK.
One last thing.
Don't say a word to anyone. No one's to question you.
If someone asks, then they don't know what you know.
They aren't on a need-to-know basis.
That's what we say. 'It's all on a need-to-know basis.'
Like professional confidentiality.
No, like classified information.
You sleep at a hotel?
Yes. - Alone?
Why?
You can tell me.
That depends. Is it curiosity or something else?
If I was under investigation, you'd know
whether I sleep alone or not.
Is this an internal investigation?
Not yet, but it's odd that you're deflecting our team.
No, I'm training them.
They found me, right?
You didn't help them.
This is all we need.
I've seen cases like this.
Agents that can't let go of their cover.
Usually because they led a sweeter life.
The one in Kazakhstan had a villa, he didn't want to return.
The Afghan was depressed for a year.
If it happens, tell us. I don't need this now.
I need you to find Cyclone.
No twists, not now.
OK, I'll wait.
I'm serious.
Is it tough?
No, I'm fine.
I just need time to adapt.
The divorce, my daughter...
No, I'm fine.
We'll find Cyclone, I'll train the new recruit,
you can count on me.
Leave Granpa and Gramma to me if you want,
I'll train them.
Mr Duflot.
Dr Balmès is here.
Speak of the devil.
Hello, Doctor. - Hello.
Guillaume Debailly,
our new assistant director.
Hello.
This is Dr Balmès, who'll look after all of us here.
Since the Cyclone affair, we're all off balance.
Especially him.
Right.
Courtesy aside. I need you in the Crisis Room.
OK.
Listen closely, don't ask questions.
If you're asked, you answer without question.
If you're not told... - I'm not on a need-to-know basis.
Exactly.
Compartmentalising is essential.
What you don't know, you can't reveal.
I understand.
If I ask you what my tie says about me,
you don't ask why, just answer. Is that clear?
Yes.
You want to seem nice.
Easy.
It's your signature.
Your tie is you, your rebellious side?
Is that it?
It's a bit short.
It's ridiculous.
Finally! The truth is most important.
If you don't know, say so.
That's how you'll earn my trust.
OK.
After you.
She's so annoying!
I couldn't stand her arrogant laugh,
which I used to like, you know.
Cortisone shots are great for working. But you end up arguing with everyone.
Anyway...
Are you OK?
No.
What's wrong?
I'm leaving.
What?
I'm leaving the service.
What do you mean?
I'm leaving the DGSE today.
What? Why?
I've been offered a long mission.
My boyfriend took it badly.
Very badly.
So there it is.
If I can't work, what's the point?
He can't stop you...
He doesn't, but it destroys him.
Knowing I'll be far away for a while, somewhere dangerous.
I can see he hates it. And he matters to me.
He'll get used to it. - No.
No, I know he won't. I'll lose him.
What'll you do?
Work in an engineering and construction firm.
Be on standby, what does that mean?
It means you stop everything.
No contact until further notice.
Unless we contact you. It's as though we didn't exist.
But why?
It's a precautionary measure.
Precautionary?
Is my cover blown?
Not at all.
So why are we stopping?
Don't want to tell me? So, it's a big problem.
There's no problem. It's just standard protocol.
Cyclone, our agent in Algeria, has disappeared.
His sources are put on standby. He's one of them.
Thank you.
Mr Jacques, my colleagues are military.
They're called Scorpions. One false move, they'll kill you.
No one will kill you, Mr Gherbi.
I want to be exfiltrated.
Otherwise, I'll do it myself.
Dr Balmès, tell us, what's his panic level?
If you think it's serious, we'll exfiltrate him.
Meaning we find a credible pretext to get him out of Algeria
and it'll cost us a pretty penny.
If you think he's not too bad,
we'll tell him to go home and clear his head.
If you're wrong, he risks arrest and execution.
So?
In your opinion, what's his panic level?
Well?
Imagine you get a lung scan
and you're told to immediately stop eating meat.
How's that relevant?
Which you'd ask the radiologist: 'How's that relevant?'
Then imagine you're told: 'I'd rather not say.'
How would you react? Would you panic or not?
OK, let's exfiltrate him.
Hello. - Hello.
Would you like tea? - Yes, thanks.
Thanks. - How were the goodbyes?
Fine.
I have to ask for your phone.
Did you bring your passport?
Since you have an Israeli stamp, you'll declare it lost.
And get a new one made.
You went to Israel? - Yes, a year ago.
What'd you do there?
I accompanied a friend to a kibbutz.
Where?
Near Mount Carmel, in the Haifa region.
All of that has to go.
Your friend...
Was he your boyfriend? That's what you declared.
We wound up together.
At the kibbutz? - Yes, but it didn't last.
His name? - Zvi Sigal.
Zvi Sigal.
He just got married in Paris
to a certain Keren Mor.
What are you going to do?
We've got to clean house.
Hello.
Follow me.
You met Marie-Jeanne, your handler for your mission.
You're in good hands.
She was my handler.
How do you feel? - Impatient.
Impatient?
To start. - Start what?
My mission. - And when does it start?
I don't know.
It starts now. - Now?
You're to go to Teheran and identify Iranian nuclear engineers.
As a seismologist, you'll be able to approach them.
How will you do it?
Do what?
Find a job in Iran.
I was hoping you'd tell me.
Get yourself hired by this man.
Reza Mortazavi.
He runs the exchange programme between France and Iran
in the field of seismic risk.
He comes every two years and goes back with a French engineer.
He's been in Paris for a month at the Institute of Earth Physics.
You're to work there
and be noticed by this Reza Mortazavi.
You must convince him you're the best candidate.
That way, you'll be with an Iranian official. There's no better cover.
How do I get into the Institute?
That's up to you.
What if I don't make it?
You'll always get the same answer:
'If you can't, go home and forget the whole thing.'
What'd you do for your mission?
I took a competitive exam to teach in Damascus.
I learned Arabic in one year.
Colonel...
Head of Operations called me. They're furious.
You spoke to one of their agents?
You thought mentioning FELIS to your brother-in-law
wouldn't get out?
What did you want to know?
To check if he was on it. - Why?
Are you worried about him? - No.
I can't say anything about the operation. But I can say this:
It's their holy grail.
Hearing how your Cyclone could compromise it drove them mad.
They outright refuse to abort. Understand?
You must stop Cyclone, that's what they say.
You'll do me that honour.
You won't make it worse. Anyway, you can't.
From now on, it's total blackout
on all communications with FELIS.
Our agents' families will have you to thank.
'Your Cyclone'...
To contact our Chinese agent, we use email.
We created a recruitment agency. He sends us emails from his office.
There's no risk they'll be read?
If someone checks his messages, it means he's been made.
The idea is to prevent that.
He's not doing anything that'd compromise him.
He doesn't take photos, steal documents, or recruit...
He works as a real head-hunter and sends us reports.
OK.
This is Algiers' telecommunications cloud, with all cell phones in use.
Every second, cell phones are switched on or off.
The satellite spots them. We study the day's movements.
Movements correspond to mass commutes from the suburbs,
downtown in the morning,
and downtown towards the suburbs at night.
We can also focus on a neighbourhood
and study the cloud in detail.
Like where the Salafi hang out.
We managed to reproduce the pattern,
the schematics corresponding to phone activity from terrorists
at any given event.
Each time a traitor's executed,
the cloud looks like this.
Here, the movement corresponds to an assassination.
On the screen below, the pattern corresponds to an abduction.
There.
This was Algiers three days ago. The day Cyclone was arrested.
So here
are the two patterns we're interested in.
I just have to apply the cloud, study each area and find patterns
that match.
You didn't tell me about Debailly.
Do we stay on him or not?
Tell me where he sleeps tonight.
OK. But does he know we know?
I'd prefer he didn't, but I'm not sure you'll manage.
What bug is this?
He's on foot? - It's not a bug.
It's the GPS on his phone. While it's on, we're fine.
Maybe he's in the subway?
Those fighting Bachar today
would have me buried to my neck
and incite people to stone me.
I told myself it was good you were gone.
Since we couldn't be together.
It's too dangerous.
I wondered why you stayed.
You were making waves with your literary club.
I told myself it was for me.
It couldn't have lasted for long,
and it could've ended very badly.
Even here in Paris, we must be careful.
Hello? - Can I ask where you are?
You don't know?
Come down.
What is it?
My publisher.
I told him he could find me here if it was urgent.
He's very possessive.
I'll be back in 10 minutes.
It's still going on, then?
Reassure me. - You tracked my phone?
Would you have answered me? - I left it on.
I don't need this.
What, that I'm not fucking at home?
At reception, Debailly doesn't exist. Your alias, then?
It's the name
of the married woman still in the room. Wanna ask her?
I don't mind. She'll be surprised, but too bad.
No, let's go out.
Are you making me pay for the Bureau feeling insecure?
What are you afraid of?
Is everything all right?
Yes!
That's all I want to know.
I'm fine.
You don't have the Post Mission Disorder?
What's that?
Refusing your real life and endangering us all.
I'm waiting to hear that Cyclone's in the hands of terrorists
or that one of his sources got arrested
or that an operation failed because of him.
Or that he's dead in a ditch.
That's my real life. What did you expect?
I don't know.
Me neither.
'We're still friends'...
That friendship won't last.
How disappointing.
What did your publisher want?
He thinks I'm writing here. It reassures him.
You told him you were writing? Not with a Ukrainian whore?
Yes.
I was afraid. - That's why he left.
Don't worry.
This is the city of love.
My 'publisher'...
I have to go.
No way!
What's wrong?
Rémi and I were supposed to talk.
His Skype ID no longer exists.
Look!
Go on, try it.
Is it a glitch?
If it's a glitch, can you fix it?
I don't know.
You suck at computers!
Hello?
Mr Gherbi? I've been trying you for hours.
Mr Jacques?
Yes, we're handling your request.
It'll be done in 48 hours. When we're ready,
we'll get back to you.
I don't need it any more.
Why's that?
I must go and board my flight to Paris.
He told his superior that his brother is ill.
That he had to see his family.
We must pick him up at the airport.
And make sure his story checks out.
Take Balmès with you. - Why?
So she can see. - What?
How it works.
Is that necessary? - You could use her expertise.
Her expertise?
Guillaume, yes! I'm sticking the shrink with you. OK?
I'm curious to know the shrink who got you hating all shrinks?
What's your field?
I did my thesis in behavioural psychology.
I worked in the army for 15 years.
I wrote a big article on the driver's behaviour.
Drivers?
What's it about?
Driving is an essential moment for patient analysis.
You kidding me? - Not at all.
For example, you check the rear-view mirror every three seconds.
It's excessive. It can imply several things.
That I'm a careful driver?
Or that you suffer from chronic or acute hyper-vigilance.
As do many returning soldiers.
It mainly concerns those afflicted in the field.
I don't dare look at the mirror now.
Sorry. Please use the mirror.
That's him. - Thanks.
Hello, sir.
Yes? - You're Saïd Gherbi?
Yes, that's me. - Hello.
Didier Vincent. I'm a military doctor.
This is my colleague, Dr Balmès.
It's your brother. - What's wrong?
He got arrested in Algiers. - What?
He's being interrogated by Algerian counter-espionage
who suspect he's working for French intelligence.
He may be charged with treason, the consulate alerted us.
What's he done?
Nothing. He must've been denounced.
But he got scared and left quickly
from his work.
He acted guilty. - What an idiot!
He's incapable of something like that. A spy, that's absurd.
He can't even cut a line!
You don't have to convince us. We think it's a mistake,
but we have to get him out of there.
What can I do?
You can check yourself into a hospital.
Your brother told his superiors
that he was coming to Paris because you have cancer.
Really?
So, I've had a relapse?
You've already had cancer?
Three years ago, yes.
Must I go back to hospital?
Hello.
It's for my mother. - May I have her health card?
Thanks.
What's going on?
Sophie? - Yes?
I got a problem here.
What's wrong? - Look.
I guess it got fixed.
Everything OK? - I don't know.
I'll tell you...
Yes.
Apparently.
It's working.
You'll settle in later. Let's get to the hospital.
What for?
Your brother's sick, isn't he?
But it was...
He's kidding.
It was to see if you were awake.
Want to take a break?
Wanna ask me what it reminds me of?
No, people tend to see the same thing.
A dick and balls.
Exactly.
I found nothing.
Nothing at all.
Would you rather find something?
No, of course not.
I can't say that.
But at least it wouldn't be my fault.
Analyse everyone? You mean with sessions?
Yes, sessions.
No, you're only here for the agents.
Fish or meat?
I'll have the fish. - Same here.
You're the head of the Bureau. You manage nine agents.
All those around you are dedicated to those nine agents.
And you've lost one.
Won't that affect everyone? You're all mother hens!
You're exaggerating.
Has it happened before?
What? - Losing someone like this.
No, I don't think so.
There you go, ma'am. - Thank you.
Fish or meat?
It'll weigh everyone down. It probably already has.
Won't that new girl be affected, thinking she could also disappear?
Even Debailly has his guard up.
Really? - Yes, he's on the fence.
Makes me think he's still on his mission.
Everyone'll be congratulating each other, which is a favourable terrain.
There'll be the main industry players: Oil companies,
research and engineering firms, drill operators.
Your target: Anne Lebarbier,
47, former director of Sismintec,
a company specialising in seismic sensors.
She helms the seismology department of the Paris Institute of Earth Physics.
You must obtain an assignment from her.
Hello.
Thanks.
Thank you.
Hello.
She won't stay long, she has no real interest there.
She's just there to make an appearance.
It'll be a very small window.
What are you waiting for?
You can't miss this chance. It'll take weeks after via email.
Let's go.
Mrs Lebarbier?
Excuse me. I'm one of the organisers of the convention.
This young lady asked me a question that I can't answer.
But I think you can.
You're brave enough to confront telluric forces,
so I think you can ask Mrs Lebarbier a few questions.
Thanks.
You're a seismologist? - Yes.
I graduated from Polytechnic two years ago.
I wanted a change of air, so I worked for an NGO,
building bridges and houses in high seismic risk areas.
I discovered the field there.
I enjoyed building shake tables,
finding answers to earthquakes in construction.
That's when I fell in love with seismic prevention.
So I decided to focus on seismology.
And what's your question?
Sorry, I was approached by the company Geoscopia.
It's small... - I know.
So I asked the organiser what he thought of them,
if I should consider their proposal.
He said you could answer my question.
What do you want to do at Geoscopia?
Find a great job in my new field.
They only do satellites and computing.
One last detail.
Before joining the Institute, she was the head of Geoscopia.
She was fired for 'lack of strategic vision.'
She left on very bad terms.
At Mr Duflot's request, we're meeting
to review your state of mind since your return.
I was joking back in the car, but I do find you highly unstable.
Was I unstable with Gherbi too?
No.
On the contrary, you were very in control.
But I found that when you let go, you tend to express
a certain anxiety
due to your change of lifestyle.
You spent six years in Damascus?
Heavily undercover? - That's right.
What was your cover name? - Paul Lefebvre.
For six years, you were called Paul Lefebvre.
How does it feel to get your real name back?
I never lost it.
Of course.
But how does it feel to not be Paul Lefebvre?
Fine.
Being back in normal life's part of the job.
Right.
Normal life
Over such a long period, you made friends, right?
Meaning you led another normal life? - Of course.
What happens to friends?
You leave them.
You have to break all ties?
You fade gradually.
You answer emails once in a while.
You stay vague, distant. You answer less and less.
Eventually, you don't answer at all.
You disappear. And people forget you.
It's not too painful?
Painful, I don't know, but we're not robots.
You also broke off some strong relationships, I imagine?
You're rather blunt.
What do you mean?
You read my file. You know who we're talking about.
Nadia El Mansour.
Exactly.
How'd you cope with that?
Badly.
You talk to your handler, ask for advice. It's not easy.
Is it easier for some than others?
I don't know.
You think Cyclone had relationship issues?
He could've had a relationship with someone
who had doubts about his real activity.
Or talked to that person whom he trusted.
Yes. The wrong people could've heard.
That's why we're protecting Gherbi.
Right.
You think that's what happened to Cyclone?
Lowering his guard at the wrong time with the wrong person?
It's a possibility.
I don't see a Nadia El Mansour.
Check the schedule, 3rd floor.
Can I talk to you?
Quickly.
What is it?
In 1990, in Algiers, a British agent got arrested for drunk driving.
He was never released.
This is a note from British intelligence asking the DGSE to find their agent.
He was never found.
But the guy was spotted five years later.
He was a case officer working for Algerian intelligence in Libya.
For the Algerians?
From the start.
He was a double agent.
That's how they got him out of circulation.
It was also a method used by the KGB in the 1960s.
You're saying Cyclone was a double agent from the start?
El Mansour...
El Mansour, Nadia. Yes, in Room 402.
It's the auditorium. - Thank you.
Let's take a break.
And meet back in 15 minutes to discuss the film.
Hello.
I'm looking for someone attending your conference.
Nadia El Mansour.
Yes, she's enrolled. Tell her I say hi.
She never attended. Except the first day.
She did well to enrol.
So that UNESCO could validate her stay.
But then, nothing.
I hope she's enjoying Paris.
Thanks. - Goodbye.
That's why the rules exist.
To never need to say to yourself: 'It'll be OK.'
They're there to protect you.
You, your sources and the DGSE.
If you're hoping it'll be OK, then it's already too late.
You've broken the rules and lost all protection.
You're subject to the law of fear, suspicion, doubt.
I could've gone back to work and told my boss, Henri Duflot:
'I messed up.'
But I was subject to another law already.
A law that all those who've lived long undercover know.
The ultimate law.
The one that makes you say: 'I can do it.'
The one that makes you say: 'It'll be fine, I can do anything.'