I want an apology, Maxime.
And an explanation.
Why did you praise those idiots?
I'm in an awful situation.
That bodge job is a far cry from the reform we wanted.
It makes no sense. You give guarantees
to the Right, Centre and now the far-Right.
Stop. Now is not the time
for a crisis of conscience!
I won't serve a weak President
who will accommodate the far-Right to hide his failures.
You won't be re-elected.
You forget I got the Left into power.
I appointed you to this job, over objections.
Don't lecture me.
The far-Right represents 30% of our citizens.
A democracy cannot ignore that.
I won't play ball.
That's it, resign, Prime Minister!
Abandon ship in our hour of need!
- People will love it! - I'm not suicidal.
I'll resign after we catch Morlaix's killers.
Here.
We let our guard down. I never saw it coming.
Beaugendre shafted me.
We were great friends...
I'm his son's godfather.
Deceiving me like that...
Worst of all, my hands are tied.
I can't act till we get the killers.
Beaugendre's in the same boat.
Why don't I announce my candidacy now?
You're in no position to.
You need some success.
Great start.
Beat him to it.
Once we've got the killers,
pay tribute to the endurance
and protection of our Republic.
Then you announce Beaugendre's resignation,
and appoint a PM who will inject new momentum.
Any challenge from him will look irresponsible
and backfire on him.
Maybe I should make you Prime Minister.
Answer it.
Yes?
We have a problem.
Sonia, the television.
Thank you.
THE MEN IN THE SHADOWS
WOMAN IN THE SHADOWS
If we let Élisabeth
rot in an Emirati prison,
wouldn't that do me less harm?
- You wouldn't? - Yes!
I would!
Not good for your image.
A PM stabbing me in the back,
an opposition leader murdered,
a crazy wife offending a Muslim country
and a reform axed by yellow-bellied MPs...
My image is in the gutter.
You must intervene.
Don't mention her again!
Your wife will be
all over the headlines.
You must get her out ASAP.
What do we do?
The Foreign Ministry is on it.
Ah yes, OK...
Sir, the Emir
knows how delicate this is.
He's our friend but he has to appease his clerics.
Meaning?
You apologise for the inconvenience caused by Élisabeth.
No.
- You have to. - No!
Mention delegations, missions, but not Élisabeth.
And no more statements.
I won't authorise it.
Write the bloody apology and let's move on!
I hope you have good news.
He's on edge.
We've located them.
We'll nail 'em.
- You informed him? - I will.
Make sure you do.
She's not for you, son.
Hi.
A coffee, please?
I've found the shareholders of that building firm.
It's an obscure consortium
in Lebanon, Middle East Investment.
Without authorisation, I can't act.
I can.
My chief editor's sending me out there.
I've told a Lebanese reporter:
he's found the firm's ex-accountant in Beirut.
What about Parodi?
She made 2 trips to Beirut in a private jet
and stayed in the Beirut Hilton's luxury suite twice.
I'm summoning her next week.
She needed a model school for her image.
I'd not be surprised if she rigged the tender
so the firm was awarded the contract.
Call me from Beirut. Tell me what you find.
May almighty Allah be blessed a thousand times.
The mufti is upset you helped a depraved, blaspheming
delinquent.
"A delinquent"?
She is no delinquent.
She's the victim of a rapist you're protecting.
We know who you are.
The mufti wants you to cover your face to avoid punishment.
"Punishment"?
I really like the mufti's great sense of humour.
Tell him.
Tell him that
my husband, France's President,
will like it too.
Let me out of here at once!
Perimeter secure.
Thank you.
Raoul is cosy.
It's hard meeting all the time and having to pretend.
If only it was just us 2.
Sorry, I'm selfish.
What about Beaugendre?
He's under control. I'm not so worried about him.
Élisabeth's out of control again.
I'm sick of it.
She gets crazier by the day.
I saw it.
We're bordering on a diplomatic crisis
with a nation that conducts strategic operations with us.
Don't know what to do with her.
Keep her away from the Élysée.
Kapita says we need her.
Kapita is a typical PR person.
He doesn't like waves.
But, with her, you may get a tsunami.
Calm things down and talk divorce.
Even if she is crazy, she's smart.
She'll realise it's in her interest.
She never wanted to be here. Play that card.
I've re-drafted the bill.
Proportional representation
is tricky, but we can get it right.
Get the right balance, the bill will be passed.
Trust me.
I'm glad I have you.
Excuse me, I must take that.
Yes?
Mr President, the killers have been found.
They'll be arrested at dawn.
Thank you.
In position.
Area secure.
Lacombe,
Weber,
you have 1 minute to come out, unarmed, hands on heads.
30 seconds.
Grenade!
Gendarmerie! Freeze! Hands on your head!
Freeze!
Show us your hands!
- Freeze! - Hands up.
Man down!
He's dead.
No movement.
Check him out.
Checking now.
He's been dead for ages.
Clear.
Check the 2nd one.
Suicide.
They staged their deaths.
Sorfah airport
Thanks
for taking your time.
We did our best.
We made sure you weren't mistreated.
How kind of you.
Marianne?
In the city prison
in a much less comfortable cell.
You must act, show her she's not alone.
- Get her out. - We never left her alone.
We placed her with the Orthodox Church.
The authorities let us do so.
By taking her away from there,
you've put her in danger.
Did they belong
to any sort of network?
Morlaix's killers belonged to a small group
of fanatical idiots, fascinated by violence.
They'd have had very few accomplices.
Intelligence are running checks
on 30 violent individuals on the far-Right
and another 10 in small Nazi groups.
- You've done a good job. - Thanks.
The President has a proposition.
You'd make a good Prime Minister.
On one condition.
Your group must vote for our bill.
With absolutely no abstentions.
You're barrel of laughs.
It may be doable.
But it'll cost you.
I know nothing comes free in politics.
Please, go ahead.
Make 1 or 2 of our naysayers Secretaries of State
and regional presidents.
I can deal with the deputies.
Agreed.
We must be quick.
Beat Beaugendre to it?
I'll give you the Home Office as well.
I need a strong team.
I want things to run smoothly. I know you're up to it.
Well?
You can count on me, Mr President.
You do the fine-tuning.
Palissy.
Dr Michel Brun Post-traumatic stress specialist
I wasn't even scared, surprisingly.
I was convinced I'd die and...
I found it normal.
"Normal"?
Ever thought about dying?
Yes.
Often?
Yes.
Did the death of that man bring this on?
I can't get that moment out of my head.
At night, on the street, at work...
I see the killer come in, shoot,
kill
and stare at me.
But he doesn't kill you. You're alive.
Well, surviving.
Ever been in therapy before?
Yes. Once, in New York.
And?
"And"... It was a waste of time.
Why are you here, then?
I'm suffocating, I'm struggling at work.
Post-traumatic shock due to the attack.
It's reviving old anxieties, buried memories.
Have you thought about taking time off?
Impossible. The President needs me.
How do you get on with him?
- What does he mean to you? - Forget it.
You're here to welcome home the wicked girl?
Not that wicked.
I'm no fool, Kapita.
No press, no official car.
Alain wants to hide the madwoman away?
I'm really happy to see you again.
Not one word, no texts, no calls.
Why?
Recent events have overtaken him.
But he was terribly worried.
You're not very convincing today.
Alain wants to get rid of me,
to keep me hidden away in the Élysée.
You're not a fun chaperone.
And you still look peaky.
"My political commitment has always been based
"on my principles. Therefore..."
Isn't that a little preachy?
That's what we're doing.
You're fighting against the far-Right,
that's why you resigned.
Good morning, everyone.
This morning, the President has accepted
Mr Maxime Beaugendre's resignation as Prime Minister
and is appointing in his place
Mr Robert Palissy,
who also remains Home Office Minister.
He has asked him to bring coherence
to the government...
The bastards!
I'd have called any other woman
foolish, irresponsible!
Mad?
Totally nuts?
Say it! It'll do us good.
I thought your medication
was helping.
- That's irrelevant. I'm fine. - Yeah, we saw!
D'you realise what you've done?
While we're dealing with Morlaix's death!
How does that make me look?
What do you think that does for our image?
You prefer the image of an oppressive, mediaeval kingdom?
D'you realise what you've become?
All you care about is your image. The power you craved...
Don't lecture me.
You and your Foreign Office did nothing
to shield that girl from an Inquisition-style trial!
I did and I'll continue till Marianne is freed.
No! You'll do nothing!
I'm a free woman!
Yes, free to act like an idiot!
The Foreign Office
has been negotiating this secretly for months!
This can't continue, Élisabeth.
I'm moving to the west wing.
You can stay here.
See my Secretary General if you want to talk to me.
Marjorie's down again.
I thought the killers' arrests would give us a boost, but no.
It's an all-out lynching.
Our 1st Lady looks crazy.
Not surprising, given the photos.
You have to be nuts to publicly slap an ayatollah
in a fundamentalist Muslim country.
I know.
Well, she's gone viral.
If only that could help us.
Women are supporting her.
And young folk.
Good. Marjorie needs their votes.
They see her as courageous,
modern and supportive of feminism.
But it's about her, not him.
They're connected. They're the presidential couple.
Play on that. Hype it up
on the social media.
Let's go.
You should've cancelled it.
No way.
Be frank: state that
the rejection of your bill
was disastrous for the country
and you were hurt by the PM's betrayal. He was a friend.
Never mention his name.
The important thing now is this reform:
France needs a new framework.
Proportional representation
appeals to many. That's why you included it:
you're everyone's President.
You listen to them, you act on their behalf.
What about Élisabeth?
I asked them not to mention her.
I've had it. I want a divorce.
Big mistake, 6 months before the elections.
You need to look like a united couple,
stay close to her.
She's dangerous.
At least you know that. Who knows
what will happen if you separate.
I expect you're right. OK, Kapita.
- Mr President. - Hello.
Our CEO.
- Hello. - Our PR Director.
8 PM News
Mr President. What does the Republic mean to you?
It's the world's greatest idea.
It's the bond that links us all
and makes this a great nation.
No attack,
no murder can destroy the fantastic bond we have.
Are you going to propose new security measures
to combat terrorism?
A law has never stopped a lone maniac.
But we've adopted a measure to strengthen
the powers of police and the intelligence services
to ensure the safety
of our fellow citizens. I cannot divulge any more.
A word about the former PM.
Such a dear friend...
It's fair to say that I feel
the same way about him.
Will you run for President
at the election?
I'm sure France wants to know.
France or the journalists?
Let's be serious, I'm focusing on what I do
and on the new bill that the nation is calling for.
That matters much more to me than some distant election.
One last question about your wife
and her actions on behalf of Marianne Joly,
the young French woman jailed in the Emirates.
A mistake, without doubt.
Should the role of the First Lady
be more restricted from a legal standpoint?
The tabloids are targeting her.
She's hit the headlines a few times.
I deplore it, but I put up with it.
I'll have to act accordingly.
- Does that mean a separation? - That's a private matter.
Another word about your policies...
Remember the socks in the 2nd drawer:
the President's taste is dreadful.
You dumped your wife in front of millions!
And? Everyone knows what she's like!
Not everyone sees her negatively.
Great, she's a heroine!
Your image as a couple
is essential to the presidency.
I find your remarks tiresome.
I know what I said.
This isn't couples therapy!
What about our strategy?
Maybe it isn't very good!
Are you coming?
Minister!
Mr Palissy!
Mr Palissy, this way, please.
A photo...
Dear friend.
It's with some sadness
that I leave my post.
I wish you good luck
in your new post. It is intense and demanding.
Your experience will help you avoid the pitfalls.
You carried out your duty, ever mindful of the State,
committed to the Republic's values
we both share,
because, above all,
we're both Republicans
and patriots.
You knew of the threat against Morlaix.
You infiltrated those fanatics.
You could've stopped them.
Prove it.
I know about your schemes,
your son's deals in Lebanon,
that building firm here.
Your son travels a lot.
And talks a lot too.
So?
Help me bring Marjorie down.
I've got you by the balls.
At my age, there's not much to hold.
What do I get out of it?
I'll keep quiet about your son and that school collapse.
Beirut
Hey, you're on time! What a blessed day!
Just to prove you wrong.
It's good to see you.
- OK? - Yes. You?
You're looking great.
Shall we go?
- You sure about this guy? - Yes, don't worry.
His name is Walid.
He was that building firm's accountant.
And he's the uncle of a uni friend.
Turn around discreetly.
See the guy behind? Is he following us?
Stop being paranoid.
Beirut's cool now. It's changed.
Walid, this is Apolline.
Apolline, Walid.
Hello.
Sit down. I'll go over there.
Go on.
A contract between the holding company,
Middle East Investment,
and the French building firm that built the school.
Is it still active?
No. The holding company is.
In plenty of sectors:
hotels, private residences,
public buildings and even the future prison.
And this concerns the woman you're interested in.
- Clémence Parodi? - I met her.
Pretty girl.
She often came here by private jet.
Always paid for by Middle East Investment.
She stayed at the Hilton.
I paid the invoices.
Whoa!
Can I keep these as proof of corruption?
I have other documents that might interest you.
People much better-known than your little minister.
Oh yes? Who?
Friends of hers.
Very close friends, interesting people.
Powerful people.
When can I see them?
Whenever you like. But I've been laid off.
I have a wife and 4 children.
Being unemployed here...
It isn't like in France.
How much?
5,000?
I was thinking 10,000.
6,000. That's all I can do.
In US dollars.
OK, you're on.
You got through the Berlin Wall?
No problem.
I'm glad to see you. No one ever comes here.
It's a lonely sanctuary within the palace.
I feel as if I'm in quarantine.
I'm useless and bored.
I have some things you might want to hear.
OK. But not here.
Have you given up tea?
Is it not strong enough?
I need a drink.
The best therapy on earth.
Welcome to the club.
Looks like it's done the trick.
You look better than before.
What are these important things you have to tell me?
Your Emirates trip.
Oh no. Not that!
What happened really impressed people.
What you did is generating praise everywhere.
I'd like you to spearhead a campaign
for Marianne Joly.
It'll help her cause and repair your damaged reputation.
It feels like my birthday!
We'll highlight your fight
against injustice and against abuse of women worldwide.
Does Alain know?
Not really.
It could help the Élysée: that's struggling too.
That's not my intention.
I'm in.
To Marianne's freedom.
I wanted to congratulate you
on your appointment.
And enjoy the end of the season.
What did you want?
We have a problem.
There's a journalist snooping around in Beirut.
Looking at Middle East Investment.
Apolline Vremler.
Know her?
Too well.
Could she discover anything?
You never know.
That's annoying.
- You told Martin? - I wanted to tell you.
Are you talking about me?
No, that woman
who wants to implicate us in that matter.
She'll find
nothing at mine or in France.
Dad...
The school investigation is still ongoing.
The judge involved is a tough cookie.
She summoned Parodi.
- Hence Vremler. - Are they in cahoots?
She didn't go out there with no leads.
Precise leads.
Want me to take care of her?
She mustn't get to Martin.
She'll find nothing. I've cleaned up.
Even the best cleaners leave dust somewhere.
Samir, I trust you. Do your thing.
Good shot. Like your dad.
Not a word about the President.
Or your status.
You're independent, free.
That is why you're supporting Marianne Joly.
"Beauty of women,
"Their weakness, pale hands
"Which often do good
"And can do every harm."
Verlaine.
I can't help reciting him.
Do it in every language and you win.
"And those eyes where of the creature
"Nothing is left, but enough to say enough
"To men's demands."
The US media are first.
10 minutes.
Who's with me?
Simon, of course. I'm on traffic duty.
10 minutes.
She fancies you.
In your eyes, maybe.
You pretend not to notice.
I don't know what you mean.
Mrs Marjorie, please.
- Hello, Mrs Marjorie. - Hello.
- She's perfect. - I told you so.
- Hello, sir. - Hello.
- A drink? - No, thank you.
- Thanks for coming. - Carrère's not here?
Please take a seat.
She's coming.
Hello.
I'm glad you've agreed to work with us.
I haven't, yet.
It's been hard for you.
Morlaix's death hasn't helped you.
The party is behind me.
You're joking? Or you're a bit mixed up.
Morlaix's killers came from your ranks.
Not Islamists or far-Left fanatics.
Lost souls with no connection to the party.
Come on, your party's imploding:
the ultras breaking off,
the traditionalists are shocked by the violence.
You have few supporters left.
What do you want?
Your support in the presidential election.
And in return?
We share the votes we get in the legislative elections.
It'd give you seats in the Assembly.
That's fantasy.
We'll sweep the legislatives!
But you'll get zip in the presidential elections.
Not even a folding seat.
You won't even cover your costs.
You need us more than we need you.
I'll give you the republican legitimacy you lack.
It's a win-win situation.
I get your voters.
You become the undisputed leader of your party.
Later, we can come to other arrangements
that are mutually beneficial.
Can I get you a drink?
Thanks. That's fine.
Look at the camera.
Let's see. Great.
One more. A bit...
There we go.
That's it. One more.
Look at me. Smile.
You have your photographer.
I like to have some control.
You're wrong
to scorn us: our circulation's on the up.
That benefits you.
I'm not stupid. Thanks for coming in person.
I love it here. I don't come very often.
You so often shun me.
I didn't know Flash Mag was political.
Politicians use us, we use them.
You know that.
Excuse me.
Marianne's parents.
Mr and Mrs Joly. Aline and Joël.
Nice to meet you. Thanks for coming.
It's important.
You've done so much for Marianne.
We'll get her back home.
Just a few photos with Mrs Marjorie.
Welcome.
I was keen to meet you and pledge my support.
Thank you, Mr President.
- Mr President. - Hello.
A quick photo, then?
Ready. Stand still.
Who came up with this farcical idea, Kapita or you?
Does it matter?
I'm helping your protégée.
Thanks. Perfect.
Perfect. Thank you.
Forgive me, but I have to go.
Thank you.
You could have told me.
You'd have refused.
He isolates me like some madwoman,
then he disowns me,
and now he's playing the gracious leader.
Trust me.
Raoul is cosy.
I can stay all evening.
Is something wrong?
The judge summoned me.
That dodgy school building again?
I'm worried.
Why? You're not to blame.
No, of course not.
But as the building firm vanished,
the judge is after a culprit and it's me.
Your only error
was to place your trust in dishonest people.
Don't worry.
I can't meddle
in the investigation.
I'm sure she gets off on nailing a minister.
Going before a judge is scary
but it's not that bad.
I had to do it twice when I was mayor.
A collapsed basketball post
and an unmarked road pothole.
It'll be fine.
I hope so.
This always works:
pretend you're off to the dentist. Seriously...
You're so scared beforehand,
it's better than you thought.
You come out fine.
I do love you.
Think you can manage
both jobs at the same time?
You're the President's confidant now.
It's only for 6 months.
I'm not naïve. I said I'll work with you.
So, what d'you want in return?
The Hôtel de Lassay.
The residence
of the President of the Assembly? Greedy.
I'm getting old. I need comfort.
I'm too old for the top jobs.
A highly-prized address. You haven't the choice.
Think of your son.
You need to contribute a bit more.
I am contributing.
A lot.
Enough to please you and ruin Marjorie.
I'm Joan of Arc, Angelina Jolie and the Queen of England!
You're a magician, Kapita.
Let's celebrate. Champagne!
Marianne's parents have been informed
of her case review.
We have the visas. We can go over.
Wear a helmet under your headscarf.
I'll behave.
Unlikely.
You used me to boost
the President's popularity.
It's up 5 points. A miracle.
You're telling me!
- You're not too upset with me? - A little.
But now, Marianne can defend herself
and we can be with her in Sorfah.
Your usual kidney fricassee, sir.
Thank you, Florian.
Excuse me.
How can you eat so much?
It's my thing. Thanks for coming.
- Martin says hello. - It's been ages.
I'm keeping him away right now.
Morocco has lots of development projects.
What d'you want to tell me?
I need the services of your friend Caroline Vitoz
and her rag.
You know her. Why ask me?
She's one of your best friends. Everyone knows that.
I have a scoop for her.
She's not to know it's from me:
tell her it's from your client,
Anne-Marie Carrère.
What kind of scoop?
What will my client gain?
It will sabotage Marjorie's candidacy.
Why d'you want to destroy Marjorie?
He made you PM. That was your dream.
Ludovic, you may act tough, but you're new to politics.
I can't reveal all.
Think of the opportunity it will give Carrère.
Without Marjorie, and Morlaix dead and buried,
there's no one left to oppose her.
Tell me more.
No way!
Like them?
Usually I know it all before everyone else,
but I'm flabbergasted!
Let my client be first to comment.
Carrère? Is this from her?
Does it matter? It just turned up.
Yeah, OK. My shareholders support her anyway.
Not bad, eh?
One of my contacts at Flash Mag took these photos.
Front page?
Yep. Triple print run.
Out tomorrow.
Can you pass me the documents?
Here.
- Which version? - The latest.
- Here, Mr President. - Yes.
Just a few adjustments needed.
Perfect.
- When will it be ready? - This afternoon.
Please check
that all our partners agree.
- Have a good day. - You too.
Kapita
Subtitles: Eclair Media