Marjorie for President
Alain Marjorie Campaign Headquarters
Dear fellow citizens and friends...
You'll understand my deep emotion
on this election night.
I didn't know one day I'd be called to such high office.
I'm aware of what an honor this is
and the work that awaits me.
Let me first thank Anne Visage,
who was a loyal opponent
and made this campaign a clash of ideas
of high quality.
Her voters should know
that I respect their beliefs.
I'll be president of all of France.
It's no longer time for partisan quarrels but for unity.
Will Anne really leave politics?
Usually, she does what she says.
- What'll you do? - I don't know.
But you'll stay in Paris?
He lacks nobility, but he's a good man.
Dad!
One year later...
The President of the Republic!
Is my wife here?
- I haven't seen her. I can ask...? - No.
No. Forget it.
You don't have to drive so fast.
- I should be at the palace. - But you're not.
It's annoying being tailed.
They're doing their job.
Should we give them a little show?
How about we stop?
Over there maybe.
You're not stopping?
We'll lose them.
I don't get tickets.
For once I get to drive your car!
The Men in the Shadows
The Accident
He could thank me. I brought Shetti here.
- Did you tell him? - Yes. He knows.
One of the richest men in India.
That's something.
Your president isn't diplomatic.
He could screw it all up.
He's your president too.
The majority and the opposition
are at odds again.
How are you, beautiful?
The left and the center are looking cozy.
Madame Secretary...
The minister of the Interior needs you.
- Hussan? What does he want? - I don't know.
I'll never forgive you
for not supporting me.
Apparently, Shetti likes you a lot.
- He's almost a friend. - Should I thank you?
I'm not doing this for you, but for France.
And for your district, with a big factory in Dourange.
It was there before I was elected.
I know.
For France and the steel industry, we must convince Shetti.
Follow me.
Elisabeth had an accident.
- Serious? - No.
Well, we have to wait for the test results.
Where is she?
A helicopter's taking her to the hospital.
- That's not the problem. - So what's the problem?
Get the president out of there discreetly.
What's the problem?
- She was driving again? - Yes.
Give me 10 minutes. I can't interrupt him.
I'll wait in his office.
Great. Thank you.
- She's at Val-de-Gréce. - Is she OK?
Yes. We can't let this get out.
It's not such a big deal.
What are you hiding?
She wasn't alone.
Who was it?
Amaury Desplantes.
- Am I supposed to know him? - No. He's a nobody, a jerk-off,
a so-called publisher.
S0 he'll talk.
No.
That's it.
Out with it!
He's dead.
- Mr. President? - Call Gabrielle.
You're'telling her? We manage Elisabeth together.
I'm sick of it.
I can't do it anymore.
1st she was manic depressive,
now, bipolar. Only the name changes.
These phases of depression and excitement
when she fucks these losers!
I'm really sick of it.
How old was he?
36.
It's not Elisabeth's fault.
It's my fault.
No, he had no seatbelt.
He had just taken it off.
- He was... - You'll be OK.
No. I'm not OK.
- I'm not OK. - Calm down.
Nothing happened. You had no accident.
What?
Why are you saying that?
Did anyone know you were with him?
No. I don't know.
It was the 1st time we went to the country.
Officially, he had an accident.
You weren't with him.
The police talked to his family. OK?
No.
Do you want the media on you? They'll harass you.
No one saw anything.
- And the oncoming car? - It didn't stop.
The police are on it. No one saw you.
- Did Benoit leave? - Yes.
He had some cleaning up to do. Let's go.
It's strange! I wanted an honest, transparent presidency.
And look, one year later,
the compromises start.
- That's holding power. - No. It's lying.
You protect your own, you lie. Then you must keep on lying.
If we'd had kids, she wouldn't be like this.
Or maybe she would.
I should've said she was sick in the campaign.
You couldn't. The press is cruel, you know.
Tonight, Benoit Hussan,
minister of the Interior, denied accusations by Mediamag
that he called groundless rumors
of cronyism.
The President
has no comment.
I've got it!
- Where's Pascal? - I'm here, Appoline.
Come on. Lemme see.
The RFP for the stadium with notes
by Hussan, our minister of the Interior.
Advice to screw the competition.
Oh, that's great!
We'll get him.
A 60-million stadium. How much did he get?
We don't know.
Maybe he helped them without taking money.
In a fantasy world, not in real life.
Why would he build a stadium
for 20,000 people? - You're not a soccer fan!
No.
We publish tomorrow AM before the ministers' meeting.
Anyone who breathes a word will be fired immediately.
OK?
Will you resign?
What do you think of Médiamag's accusations?
No comment.
Sir, the president is expecting you.
Come in!
Mr. President. Prime Minister.
So, is it true?
I never took a penny of public money.
If you were clean, Médiamag wouldn't have a scandal.
- There's no scandal. - What?
Tell that to the journalists outside.
- It'll calm down. - When?
In a week? A month? If you didn't do it.
- Do I have money? - I don't know. I'm asking you.
You know I don't.
I don't know anything anymore.
Go on, Prime Minister. I'm not a good policeman.
- Did you help one company? - Listen...
- Answer, Benoit! - Shit!
Yes.
They were more expensive, but they created more jobs.
We worked it out.
That's cronyism.
- Did you get a percentage? - No.
Let's hope not.
You'll be indicted.
If you could tender your resignation in 24 hours...
You can't do this to me. Not to me.
Look, Benoit.
Mr. Marjorie always said the minister of the Interior
was a paragon of honesty. He made him campaign director.
A campaign director
suspected of fraud. It's very troubling.
Do you believe these accusations?
It's not about whether I believe them or not.
It's up to the legal system to bring proof.
He hasn't been indicted.
I won't interfere in the wheels of justice,
but he'll have to be.
I'm surprised he hasn't resigned yet.
Are you demanding that the minister resign?
I don't demand anything. It's up to the prime minister
and the president to act responsibly.
- OK. Thank you. - Thanks.
- Hello. - Hello.
Tough but fair. Bravo.
- I need you. - You manage fine.
I want to orchestrate the Hussan scandal.
With Marjorie's fall as the finale.
I want this government to fall.
I'm firing a friend of 30 years, Gabrielle.
It has to happen, Mr. President.
The journalists will go crazy. It'll be hell.
I want Kapita.
- "Kapita"? - Simon Kapita. You know him.
We have a great communications team.
I want Kapita.
- Isn't he in New York? - Find him for me right away.
The president of the Republic.
- Mr. President. - See you this afternoon.
Definitely. The file is all ready.
Please sit down.
All right.
We won't discuss the Interior minister.
The agenda stays the same.
- You're beautiful. - And you're late.
I'm not late.
We could kiss.
- Do you really want a divorce? - Simon!
I feel abandoned.
How long have we lived apart?
I'm not an object to get rid of.
I don't want to be stuck with you my whole life.
I'm sorry.
All this for your editor-in-chief.
Let's not fight on the street.
"Unknown number."
Hello, Mr. Kapita.
Gabrielle Tackichieff, the president's secretary.
He wants to see you.
I'm in New York.
No. You're in Paris. You arrived on flight AF...
I get it, Madame Secretary.
But I'm sorry. I'm busy.
I'm getting a divorce.
The presidential palace in 2 hours.
- Did you hear'? - Enough to understand.
Don't go. The whole thing stinks.
This is all your fault.
If you'd waited 48 hours, I'd be gone.
- He's guilty? - Did you read my article?
In the taxi, yes.
- So? - Yes.
I'll prove he took money.
Well, this isn't a good day.
I have an offer from the president.
I'm listening.
Presidential communications.
Please have a seat.
I have a company in New York.
- They can get by. - I have a life, too.
Mr. Kapita.
The president needs your help. The rest doesn't matter.
That's what you say.
Nothing else is important to you?
No.
Be honest.
I managed to get away.
Kapita, you're the only one who can help rne.
I managed the campaign against you, and I lost.
Come into my office.
Anne Visage
didn't have enough troops, her party wasn't big enough.
Yet you got her to the run-off.
You almost won.
No. Ultimately you won.
I have to govern with the center.
I want to see you.
Excuse me.
- What are you dping to Benoit? - Not here, Elisabeth...
We talked on the phone.
You asked him to resign?
You can't. Have you no sense of friendship?
- He got mixed up in something. - It doesn't matter. I don't care.
What he did for me matters.
- I killed Amaury. He hid it... - Be quiet!
I won't be quiet!
Promise me Hussan won't resign.
I promise.
We'll handle it.
You swear?
Yes.
I don't trust you.
Can you be reasonable a minute?
I'm trying to protect him - don't get involved.
But you can't believe the journalists!
- He can't resign. - OK.
OK.
Go back upstairs, sweetie.
- Are you coming? - Yes. But later.
Kapita left?
- He'll think it over. - You didn't keep him?
- Daddy! - Sweetheart!
Morn said you saw the president?
I'll give my answer tomorrow.
- Will you work for them? - No.
Why? Government and power, that's your thing.
- Why so ironic? - I'm kidding.
It's not my thing, and I hate financial scandals.
Too bad. You would've stayed in Paris.
Gotta go. I'm late.
- You're off? - Meeting someone.
Is it a date?
See you later.
This morning, following revelations by Médiamag
about alleged fraud by Benoit Hussan,
the president's wife
made a statement supporting the Interior minister.
This was unexpected from the first lady
who has been
very involved with charitable organizations.
The presidential palace refuses to comment.
Her statement was as follows:
"My friend Benoit Hussan is not guilty.
"He has my full trust and that of the president."
Do you know about the statement?
Yes. I'm watching.
The president needs you.
I haven't agreed yet.
I'll come get you in half an hour.
That chick is really annoying.
I don't want you to go back to work.
Please, Mommy.
It's work, sweetie.
I have no choice.
Assa will come put you to bed.
See you in the morning.
Hello.
Sorry to bother you so late.
You don't look sorry.
I am sorry. I didn't think you were needed.
After his wife's statements, I have to admit
we have problems.
What do I need to know?
I don't get it.
What are you hiding?
The president is waiting.
Thank you.
Thanks for coming, Simon.
We have a problem.
Vtlhat should we do after Elisabeth's statement?
- You have Hussan's resignation? - He leaves tomorrow.
Does your wife know?
No.
Is he guilty?
Listen, Kapita...
How can I handle your communications
if I don't know what's going on?
Hussan is guilty of cronyism, yes. The rest...
I don't know.
And, no, I said nothing to my wife.
Because my wife,
Elisabeth.
Is bipolar.
Our relationship is complicated,
and Hussan watched over her.
As minister of the Interior, he... How should I put it?
He hushed up some of her mistakes.
OK. You know everything. All you need to know.
You must help me politically
and personally.
I don't want Elisabeth hurt, even after her stupidity.
I want no intermediaries.
I want direct access to your office.
No. I head this office.
It's non-negotiable.
Special advisor.
No hierarchy.
And I must speak to your wife.
Oh, no. She'll never agree.
You must convince her. Then it's up to me.
And a private meeting with Hussan.
Thanks, Kapita. Follow me.
My office manager and my political advisor.
- Kapita. - Hello.
Well? The candidates from the prime minister?
Here's the list, sir.
Thanks.
They'll spend all night waiting for the phone call.
Go on. Who's your favorite?
Martine Vintage.
There we are. I knew it.
You don't know her. She'll ruin my life.
I want someone loyal, not an enemy.
She's the best.
I don't know... I prefer Chavour.
- What do you think? - "Chavour"?
He's transparent, no one knows him.
Martine Vintage will turn attention away from Hussan.
- I agree. - I can't.
I need a friend,
someone faithful I can count on.
Don't forget: I need a guardian angel.
Come on! Find me an idea. Shit!
I know him. He won't change his mind. It'll be Chavour.
You're back at this hour'?
Why are you asleep on the couch?
I watched the news when I got back.
Back from where?
The presidential palace.
So you said yes?
Yes, I think so.
What time is work?
Well, actually...
I'm not working. I mean... not at the agency.
Wait. I don't follow.
It's a great job in the best p.r. firm
and you quit?
I'm not interested.
I found you that job.
What are you doing now?
Freelance reporting.
"Freelance"?
Does your morn know?
Of course she knows.
- You didn't tell me? - You were in NY.
I call often.
- I knew you'd yell. - I'm not yelling.
You're yelling inside.
I'm going to bed.
You really want to be a journalist?
Yes. You really want to work at the palace ?
You swore no more politics.
It's not politics.
- It's Marjorie. - Come on!
- Is it fashion journalism? - Not politics, anyway.
We'll see.
OK. Can I have some privacy, please?
Ladies, gentlemen, hello.
On the prime minister's advice,
the president has appointed Mr. Michel Chavour
minister of the Interior.
He takes office today.
- Madame Secretary... - No questions. Thank you.
Have a good day.
Yes, it's confirmed. Yes, it's Chavour.
Chavour as Interior minister...
National Assembly
Happy with your friends on the left?
They're not friends, they're allies.
Temporary ones?
With centrists in the government, I'm loyal.
- You know who's Interior minister? - Yes. Chavour. The village idiot.
So what's on your mind?
We'll make a motion to censure in a few days.
It won't pass.
Vote for it and let's destroy this fucking government.
- Marjorie wouldn't forgive me. - He can do nothing without you.
If the government falls, the centrists come in strong.
That's not so stupid.
What do you get out of it?
I show France this government is weak,
basically illegitimate.
- Come on, Deleuvre. - I have a vision.
Get an important ministry, and we'll work together.
The center should be allied with the right, not the left.
What do you mean, "we'll work together“?
We'll see.
We won't wait 4 more years for this dummy to leave.
- Marjorie? - Who else?
I wish we had Anne.
An airhead. A dummy against an airhead.
That was France's choice.
If I were in charge, France wouldn't be like this.
Are you with us?
I'll think about it.
Pygmalion Consulting
Here. This is all we've got.
She only does official stuff.
And not very much.
State dinners, official visits...
She didn't campaign for Marjorie.
The rumor?
They say she fucks young guys.
Like all 50-year-old women.
Committed
They say she slept with the publisher who died.
You know, Amaury Desplantes.
Yeah... OK.
Mr. Deleuvre is here.
- Send him in. Thanks. - See you later.
Mr. Deleuvre, hello.
Hello.
You know Rodolphe, my parliamentary attaché?
- Hello. - Have a seat.
OK...
Palissy is with us.
Chavour as Interior minister really stuck in his craw.
What can you do?
You'll be on the news
to announce the motion to censure.
That p.r. idiot at the Assembly couldn't do that.
I They'll ask about Elisabeth Marjorie's statement.
The president's wife shouldn't be involved. She wasn't elected.
No.
"Her special connection to Hussan made her make a mistake."
I can't say that.
Even better: "There are intimate links between the Marjories
"and Benoit Hussan."
But that doesn't mean anything.
Good.
Intimate
makes people think of sex.
Connected with the wife...
They never slept together.
I Have anything on Elisabeth and Hussan
from your previous position?
I don't get into private life. That's my rule.
I'm a statesman, I don't dig up garbage.
That's a good phrase: "intimate links."
It connects them to the scandal, and she's the weak link.
But I'm a politician.
I want to make the government resign,
and you're talking about...
You do politics. I do p.r.
Trust me?
Let me see.
"There are intimate links between the Marjories
"and Benoit Hussan."
If you came to preach, my husband already did it.
Don't count on me to apologize or to stand there
for openings of schools
or day-care centers.
I'm rarely presentable, as you can see.
For a p.r. guy, you don't talk much.
I'm not your doctor.
Or your confessor.
Too bad. I could use both.
I took this job
to protect the president. Not to protect you.
Why are you here?
Benoit Hussan asked you to make this statement?
I can make decisions on my own.
It was clever of him.
An old p.r. trick.
You turned the attention onto you.
Now you're in the spotlight.
The media will ask who is the president's wife
and what links her to the minister of the Interior.
And the opposition will benefit.
Yes, he asked me.
I've known him a long time.
I didn't want Alain to run for president.
I can't deal with it.
So get a divorce.
Leave. It's been done before.
You're not talkative but you're direct.
I don't want to leave him.
Either leave or do what you have to.
You have no choice.
The media won't drop this.
The public needs to know you.
What do you like to do?
Nothing.
Except driving.
- Or reading. - Reading what?
Proust.
Proust isn't for the average voter.
However,
a day of racecar driving
on a track with photographers - what do you think?
I can't.
I can't. I had an accident. I can't drive anymore.
Goodbye.
Complete failure.
With the president last night: he chose Chavour.
And with Elisabeth Marjorie.
You're right, I'm not a good hire.
- You want me to disagree? - No.
What's this car accident?
- She told you about it? - Yes.
What did she say?
You should hide your worry beflen
I'm not worried.
She had a car accident.
She was driving. That's all.
- Did it come out? - No.
Hussan hushed it up?
He won't betray us.
Getting fired makes one bitter.
Where should I set up?
There's no available office.
- The communications team. - Across the street? No.
- I'll take the blue room. - That's a meeting room.
If there's a meeting, I'll leave.
Gabrielle, can I see you?
I'm listening.
Deleuvre is going to make a motion to censure.
It won't pass.
Palissy and his group are for it.
- The government will fall? - I'm afraid so.
- We must warn the president. - He knows.
- Who told him? - The Assembly president.
Over my head? I'm the last to know!
Oh! Gabrielle, come here.
A government has never fallen in the 5th Republic.
I won't be the first to be sidelined by these assholes,
whom I respect, I was in the Assembly myself,
but now they're pissing me off.
In 1962, the Pompidou government was toppled.
No. That was against election by universal suffrage,
against a constitutional amendment.
We weren't in our current practices. It doesn't count.
- We must get around Palissy. - Nice word: "get around"!
We have to flatter that big idiot.
Watching my language.
- Get Kapita. - "Kapita"?
He's not right for this.
They did Anne Visage's campaign hand in hand.
Gabrielle, stop resenting him. I trust him.
Just the man I need.
I have an urgent job for you. Gabrielle will tell you.
What does he want?
Come. I'll tell you.
So, you're back in Paris? Glad to see you.
You're with Marjorie?
You, too, supposedly.
It's working OK.
We'll walk a bit?
- You can't be allies with Deleuvre! - He's not a bad guy.
Stop!
Why make the government fall?
To show Marjorie's weakness.
Robert...
It's never good to diminish the president.
He represents France.
We should help him grow into the position.
Well! You've gotten grandiloquent in New York.
You know I'm right.
- I want the Interior ministry. - Anything else?
Wouldn't I be better than Chavour?
Marjorie won't go for it.
Otherwise I vote for censure.
Then he'll have to redo his government!
If you do that, you'll be out.
All your friends in the government but you.
You head the center in the Assembly. You're responsible.
Minister of the Interior, or the government falls.
There's no way. The left would never forgive rne.
You know the situation.
- He's reliable. - He's not a friend.
He's one of my friends.
A friend who blackmails me?
That's politics, and you know it.
No, no.
No. Don't insist.
You'll be censured.
They can do the fucking censure!
I'm sorry, Simon.
It didn't go well with my wife?
Not really, no.
I warned you.
- Mr. President? - Yes.
Go on, Simon. That's why you're here.
She shouldn't be alone.
She needs a doctor, a nurse,
a shrink, and security.
I have to lock up my wife?
I wouldn't go that far, but she needs to be controlled.
- I'll think it over. - No time.
The journalists
- a certain kind of journalist - will surround her.
She must be watched, and Hussan can't talk.
What about Hussan? What do you mean?
I don't know what he did for her. It can't come out.
You must discreetly assure him of your trust.
He can't crack.
I'm at the home of former minister of the Interior
Benoit Hussan, who resigned yesterday.
This is unbelievable!
I warned you.
Hello. Rose, my wife.
Come on. The suitcases!
What are you going to do about this mess?
Come on.
I've got it.
Welcome home, sir.
It's ugly-
Don't start. It's a few days.
- And then? - The president gave orders.
No. Don't open it.
The paparazzi may be out there.
We'll protect you.
Yeah...
For how long?
As long as needed.
We'll organize your confession on a public station
with a friendly journalist.
Think about what you may have done...
I'm not a rogue!
If municipal employees did work in your house,
Médiamag will know.
If someone bought you lunch, they'll find out.
They're not the secret police.
Mr. Hussan, I don't care what you did.
If I'm informed, I can manage the situation
and put it in a different light.
If I find out in the media, I can do nothing.
I told you: I don't do miracles.
That's it. They made the motion to censure.
We've got 24 hours.
Goodbye.
Yes. On my way.
OK. I'll be there.
- That was the president. - I had his secretary's office.
Roll credits!
5, 4,
3. 2, 1g
...tendered his resignation. The handover
to Andre Chavour occurred very discreetly.
Mrs. Hussan is cute!
30 years younger than him.
He's a teenager in love.
Young wives are expensive.
And he didn't skim any money off the top?
Anything to offer Hussan?
"Offer" him what?
I don't know.
Mr. Deleuvre, we're ready.
Here you go.
This will be the 1st motion to censure.
Listen... This president has no majority.
He has to learn to consider this.
What about the first lady's support for Mr. Hussan?
That's a different topic.
A president's wife shouldn't get involved in politics.
However, there are intimate links between the Marjories
and Benoit Hussan. - What do you mean by "intimate"?
- I can't take this, Benoit. - We don't have to hear this.
What'll happen next?
What'll happen to us?
Your president will drop us.
I don't know who it is. Answer.
I'd like to speak to Benoit Hussan This is Ludovic Desmeuze.
Sorry. He can't speak right now.
Tell him I'd like to see him.
I have an offer he may be interested in.
He can call me back tonight, even late.
OK. I'll tell him.
Subtitles: Eclair Group