Previously in the Service...
I'm going to be a secret agent?
If you pass the test.
VERY TOP SECRET
Could you say why you're here?
Independence.
A bit of sunshine!
Merlaux, you're in charge.
We could use a new view.
What are you doing? It's nearly 5:45 p.m.
You do know trainees don't get overtime pay?
That suit!
Take them off, then.
I'm meeting a boy from Uni. Want to come?
Get your mind off things.
STAMPED
I still have work to do for you.
He's a saint, my friends!
We'll give them independence.
Independence is sheer stupidity now.
Excuse me, I...
Why is it such a mess in Africa and Algeria?
-Algeria's... -Algeria is France!
WHEREVER NECESSITY KNOWS NO LAW
Good morning.
I don't deserve this!
Merlaux!
What training module is this?
-Module 2 IEPT, level 1. -Which means?
Identifying and Eliminating a Presumed Terrorist - level one.
Right. So what was that?
You just let a presumed terrorist past.
Where?
Excuse me.
I thought it was a woman...
When terrorism is at stake, women must be seen as people.
You're to identify and eliminate.
If you can't Identify, you won't go far.
Let's try again.
A VERY SECRET SERVICE
THE ALGERIAN WAR
They're noisy.
Your Mrs. Sassi gets on my nerves.
Algiers is one big bazaar, so a bit more noise...
Do you know what they do?
No, no idea.
They've got boxes, stuff.
They may cart boxes and spread oil, but they pay, not Mrs. Sassi!
But since they want her out of her apartment, they even...
Tenants can't turn out others.
No, but they say...
No, they can't!
Yes, but for example...
No! You are aware that Algiers is in France?
Hello?
It's all crackly, I can't hear you.
Hello, Moktar?
Damn!
MEMBERS OR SUPPOSED MEMBERS OF THE FLN
Shouldn't you be in IEPT level one?
Yes, this is an identification exercise, sorting photos of Algerian...
Natives.
Suspect natives.
So, terrorists.
Be precise.
I'm sorting photos of terrorists. For Mr. Jacquard.
"Jacquard".
I told you: no past, no "Mr.".
-What's he up to? -I don't know...
"What he's doing."
This is Jacquard.
He's off for an urgent mission in Algiers...
In terrorist country.
I would take him, but...
he's not even up to identification, never mind elimination.
And that's basic.
So he needs to learn.
Reality can be better than training.
But Algiers isn't exactly a holiday destination.
For a trainee in Identifying
and eliminating presumed terrorists, Algiers is Eden.
I'll do the papers.
I'll try to be useful, Mr. Ja...
I'll try to be useful, Jacquard.
If you want to be useful, get my kit from Supplies.
Marie-Jo, is that the form?
A fresh B54!
DSLTO, Bureau R346, then BF2.
Bring it back to me stamped.
Thank you.
By the way, I sorted the photos
-and... -Now we're going to Algiers. Get moving.
Be kind, he's just a beginner.
CLOSED
-Hello André! -Good morning...
Hello Clayborn.
Do you know how I can get hold of Jacquard's kit?
Because it took me a while to find Bureau R...
R346...
and it was closed,
and now it's the same here.
Don't tell a soul.
Thank you.
And make sure Marie-Jo gets your B54 stamped...
when it opens.
Come on now, quick quick.
You need to learn how to hurry.
Bernard Larmaux.
-A fake passport. -No. A real one with a false name.
Why is that different?
A real fake passport has a false name.
A fake real passport is a fake with a real name.
I see.
A fake fake is a fake with a false name
and a real one is all real.
In other words, a passport.
I see.
Hurry. Jacquard's in the car to go to the airport.
-The airport? -Yes.
What's the jellaba for? You're off to Algiers, dammit!
B54 FORM
Agent's name: J. Jacquard
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard our Caravelle
flying to Algiers-Maison Blanche airport.
Not that suit!
The other one got a tear. I'm having it mended.
Indestructible, isn't it?
If it could talk about everything it's seen...
All right, Merlaux?
I'm OK, thanks.
Have a little pick-me-up.
I've no money.
It's free, Merlaux.
Have you never flown?
Yes.
Véro!
A little snifter, please?
-We're about to take off. -That's just it.
Oh well, for you. Double Scotch on the rocks?
Two, please.
ALGIERS
Can I have another little pick-me-up?
You won't be sick, will you?
Here you are, Mr. Jacquard.
-Sir. -Thank you.
Here, Sir. It is Air France's pleasure to give you
-this miniature Caravelle. -Thank you.
For your first flight.
I have flown before.
I don't deserve this!
Merlaux.
I'm identifying.
Yes, well. Come on, let's go.
Tell me,
if a woman asks to see you again,
not family, does it mean she fancies you?
Women are like real estate.
You must never look too interested.
Has she asked you for money?
No, she's supposed to give my trousers back.
Oh, well, you're in there!
Talking of suits, that one suits you.
No comparison!
The tailor seemed pleased to get it back.
Of course, it's going to get passed all around.
It'll go from hand to hand for years but no one will have it.
-Jacky! -Reidouane!
-How are you? -Fine, and you?
-How long are you here for? -Just today.
-See you later? -See you later!
Here, Sidi Jacky.
Pastries are one of the few things they're really good at.
France is great, isn't it?
Hey Jacky! Hello!
-You know everyone here! -Two or three people.
They seem to like you, anyway.
Oh, all that's just groveling.
Moktar!
Happy to see you.
So? Denia hania?
Yes, fine. The thing is everyone...
I get it.
Merlaux, I'm just popping off.
Meanwhile, look, listen, observe. I-Spy.
The problem is the van.
-Maybe I'll take a goat. -A goat?
What will I do with a goat?
Waiter, please. How much is it?
No, you were with Sidi Jacky. It's OK.
Excuse me, did you see an elegant man,
not native, French, in a light suit?
Sidi Jacky? He went that way.
Thank you. That way?
Just on your right.
ONLY ONE HERO THE PEOPLE
Do you realize what you're saying?
I wouldn't have bothered you if I didn't, colonel.
How could there be a flaw in the security set-up?
We're doing all we can to find out.
I'm counting on you.
I'll update you hourly, colonel.
Sidi Jacky?
Jacquard?
Sidi Jacky?
Sidi Jacky!
But... that's my suit!
-Let me speak! -Calm down!
Be quiet and listen to me!
Let me speak!
Mrs. Sassi, Mrs. Ben Mahmoud, for the last time, be quiet!
If you have a problem, go and talk to the tenant.
I can't get a plane from Paris every five minutes for this!
But knocking is no use. He only comes here at night!
They make noise with their friends, they go up,
they come down, they carry crates... we've had enough!
Their crates are full of oil! It runs everywhere!
Well, you lot put oil in everything.
They argue!
They chat! And the children!
They can't sleep. They must be thrown out!
She's right! Out! We don't want them here!
Calm down!
Calm down! Calm down!
Mrs. Sassi,
if you don't like it, leave.
What?
Your rent for January.
What?
Your neighbors pay on time.
And from now on, you do too or you're out!
I said the 5th of the month! Meeting over.
And the equipment?
Oh, you're on time for that.
Enough!
Everything you put on your B54, you'll have.
If you others haven't filled in your B54,
don't follow me.
Do you realize you breached Service security
and as a result, put France in danger?
Look at me.
Answer "yes" or "no".
Merlaux?
Please leave.
It's your place and it's theirs too.
You're all in my place,
so we must work something out.
OK, Sidi.
So if you have fights at night,
do it quietly, don't wake the neighborhood.
Agreed?
Agreed, Sidi.
I'll put a hand truck for you on the next B54.
For your crates.
Talking of which, I don't care what's in them,
you must nail them shut.
For the kids...
For heaven's sake Merlaux,
you can't just kill tenants like that.
They paid six months in advance.
They've got guarantors worldwide!
They were in the photos.
What photos?
The photos you had me sort.
FLN members, or supposed members. They were in there.
I identified.
I eliminated.
To the airport.
Tell me, that... that building.
Is it all yours?
I own a few apartments.
They bring me tenants, with information.
So that's your cover?
That's it. It's my cover.
That's why you didn't say!
Exactly!
Well, it's a good cover.
Real estate in a hostile land.
Hostile?
Algeria, a hostile environment?
Merlaux, Algeria is France. A beautiful province.
Ideally situated, a wonderful climate, good living...
old-world charm and all mod cons.
A piece of advice, by the way: invest in Algiers.
There were skirmishes,
prices dropped by 40%, up 60% three months later.
What about my module?
I don't rubber-stamp modules.
But are you pleased what I did with your...
Well, I did lose a very precious source of info.
So you knew those natives were with the FLN?
How do you think we fight terrorism, Merlaux?
In the name
of the colonel, the service and... France,
I wish to salute intuition,
strategic intelligence and bravery,
the very French qualities which eliminated
two of the darkest figures of the terrorism
that threatens us all.
I particularly want to thank
that without which such effective interventions could not happen.
The service.
The service, which has made us...
Me...
A fearsome weapon serving France!
You put France's security in peril.
But... in what way?
What difference between these B54s?
This B54 has been stamped.
This B54 hasn't.
So. You acknowledge
you didn't have the right B54 form stamped?
Oh, yes...
I forgot.
You forgot.
I'm sorry.
For each step, each decision, there is a form.
For each form, there's a stamp.
-You think it's just for show? -No.
It's like a missing code word.
If one had been missing on D-Day,
where would the Allies have landed?
They landed: they stamped.
The general freed Paris: he stamped.
From London, he stamped.
Mission unstamped, mission unchecked.
Mission failed.
Sorry, I didn't realize, but...
I did eliminate.
Mission failed.
Marie-Jo tried to cover for you: she will be penalized.
You can thank Jacquard
who interceded on your behalf so you passed your module.
I've passed?
You're very lucky.
Yes, it's available.
It's got great character, and it's well exposed.
Four of you? No problem.
In the French Army? Perfect.
All four of you generals?
Fine. So, four generals.
At night?
Yes, but don't talk too loud.
Will you have crates?
Meet me at the café...
Hello, Sophie.
Have you been unfaithful?
Sorry?
Your suit. Where did you have it made?
Algiers.
I've mended your trousers.
But what have you done now?
Oh, that's nothing.
Here.
I've got a little gift for you, too.
Where did you find it?
I told you:
I went to Algeria for work.
Well, thank you!
Would you like to go to the cinema on Saturday?
The cinema?
Yes! Don't you like films?
No, yes...
Yes, I would.
I have to go.
So see you then.
See you on Saturday.
A port, please!
So, what do you think?
Where did you get that?
Turn round, go on, turn round.
Who gave you that?
But it's a dreadful suit! Where did you get it from?
Did you buy it off a friend? Tell me.
Stop it, it's classy.
What do you mean, it's classy?
What's so classy about it?
Subtitles: Victoria Britten