Are you ready?
I just read an intelligence report.
The terrorists locked all the hostages in a room...
with explosives tied to their waists.
How can anyone get over that?
Don't think about it.
Be attentive, friendly, upbeat.
But no compassion. It won't help them.
What do you know?
The President of the Republic.
Hello. Hello, everyone.
We're very happy to have you here.
Please, continue your conversations.
- My wife isn't here? - She'll be here soon.
Hello.
- Hello, Madame. - Thanks.
You're welcome. We're glad you're safe and sound.
Hello.
Hello. I'm really sorry for what you went through.
I don't know how to show you my sympathy.
It must've been horrible.
What courage!
You brought them back, that's what counts.
Oh!
Hello!
How nice. Let me kiss you.
I'm very...
happy to see you, Happy he's here.
Our hero.
We're so proud of you.
It's fantastic!
What courage!
You're a hero!
Excuse me, Madame.
Excuse me.
I'm glad to see you.
Come with me.
It's important.
Please... Please.
Please.
The Men in the Shadows
Why don't you tell them you paid for their freedom?
It's bad manners to discuss money.
Is it bad manners to know the truth?
They say journalists have wild imaginations.
You'll need imagination to spin this shit.
I know about Bakian's negotiation...
He wasn't here. How strange!
Not really,
if you know his background.
We all wish guys like him didn't exist.
They're unavoidable.
What about pretending Wahid is dead?
- Wahid is dead. - I have proof!
Mali is France's Guantanamo Bay?
You can't have proof because Wahid is dead.
I hate it when you lie like that.
I'll demolish you all.
- What do you want? - The truth!
No!
It's childish. You want to win against me,
against those who represent power.
What about this?
That photo's 6 years old.
Did you know Bakian knew the chief of staff?
- Interesting, isn't it? - Why?
I don't want revenge, I'm a journalist.
I want to know what Bakian does for the government.
- I don't know, Appoline. - Yeah, right.
Keep it, I've got more.
I'm sorry about before.
Did you take your medication?
Will you answer?
No. I forgot this morning.
You just don't care?
I'm sick of taking medication.
It's very simple: you take your meds every day or...
Or what?
Take your medication.
Please.
The accident
took place 5 km from Marjorie's country house.
This is the insurance report.
The car was totaled.
They said Amaury Desplantes was alone and speeding.
He was meeting her?
No. He was going back to Paris.
With her.
Are you sure?
Amaury's secretary knew about their affair.
They were coming back together.
Elisabeth Marjorie's name is nowhere.
In no report.
Not in the police report although she had government security.
Unless they made her vanish.
There must be a report somewhere. It's required.
- How's it going? - You've forgotten me.
Are you crazy? I think about you all the time.
Did Hussan cover up the editor's accident?
The one the princess was fucking?
They were together when he died.
Your husband must know.
What exactly do you want?
I don't know.
Where does he hide secret stuff?
There's a trunk in the apartment.
He organized it before we left.
Did he take out any files recently?
No. I think he wanted to. But we didn't have time.
Do you have the trunk combination?
- Of course. - "Of course."
- A new disaster? - It's from the Algerian embassy.
Proof of Bakian's betrayal.
A signed confession?
The interrogation of a terrorist they captured.
"Yes, Bakian asked us for Wahid's freedom."
"Why?"
"I don't know.
"He didn't tell us."
"How are they connected?"
"I don't know."
"Liar."
"I swear Bakian absolutely wanted this.
"He asked us to kill the 2 hostages
"so France would let him go."
"How much did you give him?"
OK. That's enough. We know that.
That asshole betrayed us all along.
Where is he?
I want to know where Bakian is.
What are you doing here?
Your secretary doesn't know you're mad at me.
You started it.
We're not in the schoolyard.
Appoline is after Bakian. She gave me this.
She's on political terrain. She won't get to Victor.
She can't.
You don't know her.
The political angle worries me.
There are rumors, the press is curious about Bakian.
Thanks to Appoline. Your ex.
Officially, the government denies Bakian's involvement
and any contact with him.
I know. But it's not enough.
That's your job, to snow them, make stuff up.
If it's believable.
I need something to work with.
Ask the president.
Thanks for your help.
I'll remember it.
Bakian is in Tunis.
Captain Francis, of intelligence,
tracked him there.
What's he doing in Tunis?
We don't know.
He's not hiding.
He's at one of the best hotels.
An intelligence team is there.
- Can they bring him back? - Too hard.
We need the Tunisians' help.
- We can't extract him like that. - Will they help?
Depends on Bakian's contacts with Ennahdha.
Bakian has more influence than France?
I'm not saying that. I'm just cautious.
Bakian must answer for his acts.
Find a way.
You have to find a buyer for Dourange.
- Bakian's out of commission. - That doesn't help me.
Or you either.
1,500 to 2,000 jobs lost, that's a hard pill to swallow.
Be more optimistic!
French steel is the best in Europe.
Also the most expensive.
This might be the time to lower the cost.
We'll keep jobs.
If the union can be more flexible...
He fucked you over, huh?
Who?
Bakian. I have my sources, too.
A tourist. Nothing more.
A little bird tells me that Wahid isn't dead but hanging out
somewhere between Mali and Niger.
Deleuvre,
you should be a writer.
The soldiers who captured him must've been...
a little sad to let him go, right?
Soldiers aren't known for being sad!
Goodbye, Deleuvre.
You have info on Bakian for me?
Of course. And intelligence agency files, too.
I'm here to make peace.
We were at war?
Not me, but you were.
Have you eaten?
What's your game, Simon?
We can have dinner, right?
You want info to come up with a strategy.
You're annoying. Yes, I want a strategy.
- You see? - Let me speak.
About Juliette. No news from her for 1 week.
We have to do something.
What do you want to do? She has to live her life.
Not if she'll lose it.
She's with idiots who talk about jihad
and steal cars, sell drugs, etc.
- How do you know? - I know.
Do you know where she is?
No.
We can't do anything, Simon.
She told me nothing except some nonsense.
I'm as worried as you are.
I said it. Happy?
No. I liked it better when you reassured rne.
Let's go eat.
Gabrielle!
Minister.
Don't be formal like that, Gabrielle.
It makes me uncomfortable.
And smile, for God's sake! Smile!
What is there to smile about?
That's a good reason to smile.
Say.
How's Kapita's doing with his ex...
Appoline?
Regarding what?
Appoline was in Tripoli.
Then she asked Marjorie a question about Wahid.
Did Kapita get her off the track?
I don't think so.
That's what I thought.
Bad sign - he doesn't call me back.
I'll handle it. I can put pressure on.
- What does that mean? - My secret.
The president won't know either.
You're annoying, Palissy.
At least you're not being formal with me anymore!
A"Y Progress?
Bakian has Sudanese diplomatic status ? it's complicated.
This is ridiculous.
Tunisia won't get involved in this dispute.
Bullshit diplomat talk.
Get me a phone call
with President Gouram. I'll handle it myself.
This isn't at your level.
You can't handle it direct...
My "level"?
Let foreign affairs handle it.
Indeed. You're right.
Meanwhile, Bakian's in a luxury hotel.
The president of France
can't get an extradition.
- France has no more power. - We'll manage, Mr. President.
I hope so.
If not, our diplomatic relations will be cold.
Thank you.
You have a great job.
- No thanks to you. - Each plays his role.
It should be the same.
Shedding light on your actions concerns journalists and politicians.
Too much light hurts your eyes.
You won't help anyone by writing this.
- Your opinion doesn't matter. - Yes, it does.
That's my job.
To lie to citizens?
To protect state secrets when they save lives.
You won't publish your story.
Or mention Bakian and Wahid.
- Oh, no? - No.
Otherwise all your sources will be investigated
by the police, the justice department,
and the tax authorities.
Another low maneuver.
And they'll know you turned them in.
You stole my computer'?
An intelligence officer, 2 embassy secretaries, cops,
secretaries from a dozen offices, representatives,
and even a former minister.
Did you sleep with him?
You're disgusting.
Publish your story and I'll blow you up.
Your wonderful career will be just a memory.
Never.
I'll print what I know.
That's my job, I can't do it any other way.
And I won't do it any other way.
- You may regret it. - Not as much as you.
I won't leave out this conversation, either.
Or your threats or your vile blackmail.
Too bad for you.
Hello, Madame Tackichieff.
I'm Mr. Glasberg.
Mr. Bakian's attorney.
Is that your child?
What do you want?
He'll be a tall, handsome man.
Mr. Bakian asked me to represent his parents.
Excuse me?
How lucky to have 2 families.
That's Victor's situation.
His parents are tortured by remorse
ever since you bought their only child.
I didn't buy Victor.
I adopted him.
He became my son legally.
Poverty makes people make such bad decisions!
They miss this child terribly.
As you can imagine.
They're going to court to get their child back.
Unfortunately,
a local journalist will cover their touching quest
in the local media.
Can you imagine?
The mean, rich French lady
who bought their child for a few Euros.
Your position will be unsustainable.
What does Bakian want?
If France stops watching him constantly,
he'll convince Victor's parents
to disappear.
You have my card.
You have 24 hours.
Victor!
Come on. Let's go.
Let's go.
Is this what you wanted?
It's perfect.
It's to help, right? No dirty tricks?
Of course.
You're a dear.
Virginie...
OK, I've got the file.
Virginie, it's a note from the secret service.
They were together. She was driving.
She killed Amaury. Make a call.
Get an appointment with Deleuvre.
Tell him I have a bomb against Marjorie. He's over.
Don't tell him what. Just a bomb. That's all.
Bakian
It's not courteous not to take a call from a friend
to whom you owe so much happiness.
You should remember this, Gabrielle,
and let me enjoy my little Tunisian vaca...
- It's Mom. - Hi, Mom.
I'm coming. Everything's fine?
Yes, but I'm watching a show on the computer.
OK? I love you, Mom.
I love you, sweetie. See you soon.
Simon!
Are we speaking?
Please... I didn't sleep all night.
Tell me.
Bakian's so-called lawyer met with me.
He says Victor's birth parents could take him back.
In exchange for what?
It can only be blackmail.
Ending his government surveillance.
Did he show you official documents?
A legal decision? A photo?
No.
He knows you fear losing Victor. He has nothing.
You're the chief of staff.
Kill him.
Should I tell the president?
Do you feel up to it?
You wanted to talk about Bakian?
In a way.
What does that mean?
There's something I didn't tell you about him.
I expect the worst.
He helped me adopt Victor.
I was on assignment in Budapest.
It was very long, very hard.
Exhausting.
At each stage, I had to start over.
A document was missing, or a signature...
That's when I met him,
at an embassy reception.
And the problem was fixed in 48 hours.
You paid him?
Yes.
And the adoption?
It was handled legally? Officially?
Completely.
And since then?
- He asked you for nothing? - No.
I swear he didn't.
I never saw him again
and had no relationship with him.
Did you know of his reputation?
No. 6 years ago, I knew nothing about him.
Just enough to beware, right?
Because of you,
this office may find itself in an uncomfortable position.
- If my resignation is necessary... - OK. OK...
That's not a priority today.
But...
if it turns out to be needed, yes.
But in the meantime,
we'll keep on working together.
Thanks.
Gabrielle!
Thanks for telling me.
- Is something wrong? - Yes.
What is it?
Gabrielle.
The perfect Gabrielle made a mistake?
She paid an intermediary to adopt Victor.
Just like for the hostages?
It's OK. I know nothing about the negotiations.
I'm not asking.
She used a real bastard,
it could hurt me.
How could she...
Some women would do anything to have a child.
It's a very strong instinct, apparently.
I don't know. I don't have it.
Do you regret it?
Sometimes.
If I'd wanted a child, would you have had one?
What's with you?
I'm tired. Tired of me...
the decisions I've made. I'm not sure of anything.
We can't go back.
We can't change the course of things.
Life goes too fast.
We must accept what we are even if we don't like it.
You can fire Gabrielle.
No.
You fired Hussan...
I have a council meeting, so be quick, Ludovic, my fellow.
This'll blow up the president. Marjorie's dead.
Desplantes was her lover and she was driving.
She killed him. It was covered up.
Kapita can try his best, he won't save them.
If I were you, I'd destroy this document.
You've been around politics
long enough to know you can't attack personal life.
It's a government cover-up, it's manna for the media.
For the media, maybe, but not for rne.
Everyone has something to hide. You, me, everyone.
If you break the law of silence just one time,
you'll be covered in mud and excrement
like the stables of Augias.
Didn't Kapita teach you anything?
This goes beyond private life.
A bit beyond. Barely.
This proves she was with him, not that she was driving.
It's a low-class scandal
thafll blow up in my face.
You have so much to hide?
Mr. Desmeuze, I won't allow you that question.
You're not trying to take down Marjorie but Kapita.
We could do both.
No.
We're done.
I don't get it.
Find another client. I don't like your methods.
You're aging badly. At your age, that's unforgivable.
Bakian packed his bags.
This morning around 6 AM.
He suddenly turned in his keys and left the hotel.
With traffic, he's just left Tunis for the south.
He's gotta be headed for Libya.
Is he tailed?
We have 2 men and another team waiting.
We can't let him get there.
It takes a whole day to get to the border.
We could try a nighttime operation.
They'll be less vigilant. We can cut him off.
Completely illegally?
You're right. I don't want to know.
Perfect.
- It's a fake. - No.
It's from Hussan's trunk.
What am I supposed to do with it?
- I don't know, but I have ideas. - I'm sure.
Rotten ideas.
What would a scandal do for you?
Bring you all down.
You first of all.
You want to play this game?
You'd throw a woman to the dogs, besmirch a president,
create a political crisis to get revenge on me?
- That's pathetic. - Pragmatic.
There's not room for us both.
Either you leave the president,
go back to New York, or wherever you want,
or I tell all.
The 1st lady is responsible for her lover's death.
- Her much younger lover. - You need proof.
That she was driving? I have proof: a government cover-up.
You'll all burn: you, Marjorie, everyone.
It's up to you.
All this to take my place.
You think it's all about you.
I'm ambitious and I'm eliminating a competitor.
If Pygmalion had your job, it's be good for our image.
Think it over and call me?
Hello. You've reached Gabrielle Tackichieff...
Simon Kapita. I have to see you.
Why?
It's urgent and serious. I need you.
Nice to know I'm still needed for something.
What's the problem?
You forgot something in your trunk.
I alone have the combination.
Apparently not.
I can be in Paris in 1 hour.
Perfect. Thanks.
How do you manage to always look so innocent?
- You look bad. - We have to talk.
About what?
Your new lover...
is a piece of shit.
He got what he wanted, now he'll drop you like the others.
- How do you know? - I was minister of the Interior.
He can ruin the president
and fuck us all over just to get revenge on Kapita.
- What can I do? - Don't help him.
And...
you can take back what you gave him.
Don't think you'll be spared.
By the journalists.
Cops and judges too.
Don't think he'll lift a finger to help you.
I know.
I'm sorry about what happened.
I didn't want this.
For me, it's not important. But protect yourself.
Try to get those papers back.
Where are you staying?
In the country.
What are you going to do?
I don't know.
You?
I don't know.
I don't know anymore.
We were kind of happy, right?
You were my sun.
We lost Bakian.
The Tunisians blocked us with a made-up excuse.
He crossed the Libyan border.
He was negotiating in Tunis with a guy from Hezbollah.
Some of Qaddafi's weapons that Wahid got hold of.
Yes. Missiles.
That's why he wanted Wahid's freedom.
Enough to sacrifice our hostages.
De Richaud is at operation HQ.
He's studying solutions with army leadership.
Stay here tonight. Tell me if you hear anything.
Wait for me here?
Excuse me, Mr. Glasberg. I'm late.
You didn't need an escort.
It's just the president's security.
It's important to him.
The president knows about our business?
Of course.
Anything connected to Bakian interests him.
He's under surveillance and suspected of high treason.
"Treason"?
I didn't know.
I just represent...
An honest Hungarian family that misses its son.
Do you have any official documents from these people?
Do you want to blackmail the president's office?
I wonder what our services will find out about you.
- You were really mad. - You wouldn't speak to rne.
You have a terrible character.
You're not easy either.
I'm the easiest.
And I'm the most docile woman in the world.
Prove it.
Excuse me.
What?
OK. I'm coming.
Juliette was arrested and is being held.
What?
Accused of helping an Islamist group
plan an attack. What the fuck?
Calm down. She's a journalist. They won't hold her.
They'll ID her quickly.
She'll be free in 4 hours. There's no risk.
The anti-terrorism cops are worse than the Islamists.
I'll call you.
Come with me.
- Can't get anyone. - Palissy will call me back.
He's a bastard. He tried to blackmail me.
He won't get away with it.
- Call Marjorie. - What?
- He can do that for you. - Not in the middle of the night.
What if it were his daughter?
Wait...
He must know already.
She's a journalist, not a terrorist. They'll question her
to learn about this cell and let her go.
Gabrielle's trying to call intelligence.
Are you fucking her?
Excuse me?
That's why you didn't answer.
You were never so vulgar.
I'm sorry.
- I'm scared for Juliette. - Me too. Me too.
6 kilos of fertilizer on your credit card ? a lot.
I've told you 20 times I don't know about it.
Like the 2 pressure cookers?
Were you teaching your pals to cook?
What am I accused of?
I have the right to a lawyer.
We're waiting for the store videos.
If we see your pretty little face,
you'll get 12 years.
I was just talking to them.
And the cell phone you paid for, that was to talk?
Whaddya think it's for?
A terrorist can make a great detonator out of it.
You see, in a subway or train car,
it can kill 12 and wound or amputate 50.
I'm a journalist.
- We didn't find your press card. - I don't have one yet.
You have no papers, either... OK!
No big deal.
We have 4 days and 5 nights to go.
Let's start over.
How long have you known Mourad Saidi?
For 3 months.
H0w'd you meet him?
Is he your boyfriend?
So what if you're sucking Arab cock,
I just want to know what Mourad
wanted to blow up. When and where.
I don't know.
- When can I see a lawyer? - When you're less stupid.
I'll be back in an hour.
Subtitles: Eclair Group