Jacques?
It's Apolline. I've rung you 3 times.
Where've you been?
Yeah, I know...
I need 6000 dollars.
What for? For the hammam, idiot.
Yeah. No, it's urgent.
Make it snappy! I'm meeting my contact.
Climate Conference - Paris
Sort that out, will you?
See you shortly.
Double spread in Flash Mag.
I hope you like it.
- Who took them? - I don't know. I wasn't there.
I don't understand.
I don't understand how you can be so carefree.
How do I get you out of this one?
Not even 2 weeks after Morlaix.
- That's how it goes. - You don't think, do you?
Your career's on the line, not to mention your candidacy.
Imagine the media frenzy!
You know Flash Mag's editor.
Speak to her.
She'll never give this up.
It's a big seller!
Promise her the moon, but get me out of this!
Here.
It's all there.
I see that. Thanks a lot.
SPIN
TABLOID POLITICS
Think I'd give this up?
No chance! You'd do the same in my position.
Well, I'm not. I wouldn't like to be.
Simon, don't do this to me.
This is going to go global.
It's my day of glory.
And our shareholders aren't fond of Marjorie.
Never!
I didn't know you were a bad loser.
To save the king, the Élysée will double
your budget.
For the queen, it'll be harder:
the princess is so cute.
Don't you think?
We hardly airbrushed her.
A little gift.
A token of our friendship.
So, who's your source, then?
The gang we just talked about.
Anne-Marie Carrère via her PR man, Ludovic Desmeuze?
That's all I'll say.
Get Marjorie out of this, you'll be Man of the Year.
A farce in the Élysée
just after an assassination:
I can't see how you'll save Marjorie
and his candidacy.
This is incredible.
It's Christmas.
It'll be on sale tomorrow
and on the web in 2 hours.
One million copies.
Thank you.
Marjorie scuppering himself: what a gift!
Start with France Info, RTL and BFM tomorrow
at 7.30am.
You'll be first to react.
Hit hard, but be charming.
Solidarity for the betrayal,
female politician appalled by State lies.
I won't hit hard, I'll hit fair.
I'll aim for the heart, cause tears,
appeal to the sadness and indignation of all women.
You're becoming an asset, Ludovic.
I've wanted to fuck you since day 1.
You took your time.
Respect for the client.
Carrère's first attack.
Desmeuze's work, surely.
Flash Mag will print 1 million copies and release it early.
On newsstands by 6am tomorrow.
We can't deny the affair now.
That wouldn't work.
But there's no telling
when the photos were taken.
Why don't we try that?
Why not alter the meaning of the kiss in the photo?
We say it happened 6 months ago,
it was a farewell kiss
and the affair ended.
We say I regret the affair.
You don't cheat the media and public like that!
The photographer knows!
It'll backfire on us.
Who can certify it's not the truth?
The paparazzi? They're expert cheats and liars!
Do you have a better idea?
And you'll convince
Clémence Parodi to play along?
Do you think she'll readily accept public rejection?
I'll deal with her.
Will you deal with your wife too?
If she hears of the affair via the press or a friend,
she'll be uncontrollable.
- I'll do it, but not now. - When?
I'll see!
Emirate of Sorfah
It shouldn't take this long.
I'm worried about Marianne.
Trials behind closed doors: a parody!
I can't help thinking she's condemned in advance.
All they'll do is apply sharia law.
We want her home, they want her gone.
The judge.
My colleague's confident. Why would they let you come back otherwise?
He hasn't said a word.
It'll be fine:
it happens behind the scenes.
What is it?
She's sentenced to 5 years in prison and 100 lashes.
Mrs Marjorie!
What's happening?
Mrs Marjorie!
What's happening?
The verdict is unfair, utterly scandalous!
5 years for indecency?
100 lashes?
She could die! It's mediaeval!
Her only crime is being a woman.
We'll appeal and we'll win.
This is about women's struggle
throughout history, the world over.
We should expect the worst.
The tabloid press will run riot.
It'll be terrible, politically.
Don't worry about me. I'll be OK.
How will you respond?
What's the plan?
I must tell my office. To avoid blunders.
I don't need to say how much I love you
or how happy you make me.
But...
We must stop seeing each other.
You want me to resign?
I haven't decided yet: we still have that bill.
We mustn't meet in private.
I don't know, you...
You should lie low, maybe move away from Paris.
For how long?
Until after the elections.
- 6 months? - It's the only way.
Kapita's PA will contact you.
Officially, that kiss was a farewell kiss.
We parted 6 months ago. That's the story
we tell the press.
That's the most viable strategy.
It's all we've got.
Was it Kapita's idea?
"Kapita"?
No.
No, not really. Why?
Look, darling...
I'll do what you want.
The meeting on the 18th has been cancelled, then confirmed.
I can't cancel all my trips.
I'm a member of the government.
Bumping into the President at an event is OK.
No.
Can you stop swivelling? It's very annoying!
At least spare us the long face.
It's your idea.
I didn't have the affair.
Very funny. Any more like that?
Look, I don't like this lie.
It's the President's choice. I'm doing my best.
Be grateful.
Thanks. I appreciate it.
Your ex-wife was abducted. Come to the Home Office.
- On my way. - Problem?
How do you put up with him?
He's my boss.
What happened?
I'm briefing the President.
We know nothing about the kidnappers.
Our embassy had no prior warning.
The suggested contacts seem dubious.
Does it matter?
Don't you want to know if she's OK?
She's my daughter's mother!
Kapita will attend all our meetings.
She's alive, Kapita.
We're sure of it.
Our advisors have confirmed it.
They won't kill a French journalist:
think of the ransom.
That's reassuring.
Forgive me.
How will you get her out?
- Where is she? - On the Syrian-Lebanese border.
In Syrian rebel territory.
Any news?
Yes. Via a friend in the Lebanese secret service.
Do we know him?
No. He's my contact.
Who cares? What does he know?
A journalist was abducted by rebels,
she's in a Sunni village
in Syria, just beyond the Lebanese border.
They're recent affiliates, not pure fanatics.
They will negotiate a ransom,
but we must act before ISIS gets involved.
You trust this man?
- He owes France a favour. - Name?
Captain Mawad. He was at the embassy in Paris.
I'll contact the embassy for details.
Their vehicle at the border.
It's the 4x4 our team identified in Beirut.
You run negotiations with your contact.
Intelligence will monitor you. Officially, we don't negotiate.
We'll get her out of there, Kapita.
I hope so.
She has a knack for getting into trouble.
We'll get her back. Don't worry.
Syria
What will they do to her?
She's a German journalist.
Her ransom hasn't been paid.
Mr Kapita!
Will the President make a statement?
Good evening.
Ah, the usual night owls.
- Is his marriage over? - When did the affair start?
I can't answer that. I wasn't there.
However, this affair that has you so rapt
ended over 6 months ago.
Flash Mag say the photos were taken last week.
Do you believe that?
Scary!
What does Mrs Marjorie think?
We'll issue a statement tomorrow.
Thanks. Good night.
No more questions. There's coffee and whisky in the usual place.
Good night.
Nothing. Strange!
- I haven't got a signal. You? - No.
- Show me. - No.
They're probably shielding us from the CIA.
I got you a Swiss passport.
Keep it safe.
You can now travel incognito.
Thank you. See you in Paris?
Yes. I'll just finalise the appeal details
with my local colleague first.
I'll call you.
Don't worry. The game's not over yet.
We only lost the 1st battle.
Go home. It'll be OK.
Yes. Kelner here.
What's this story about an affair?
Are you alright?
I don't know.
You can't stay like that. Can I call someone?
I'll be fine. Thank you.
Thank you.
ÉLYSÉE FARCE
Something's wrong with my phone. I can't get anything. You?
Can you put the news on?
The radio's broken. Sorry.
Are you sure?
No signal, not even in Paris. Very odd!
May I borrow your phone?
Sorry, ma'am. Mine's not working either.
ÉLYSÉE FARCE
Oh, shit...
The President's affair
with his minister, Clémence Parodi, has created a media storm.
The Élysée's ad-lib statement last night
showed just how nervous the President is.
You said it!
Apparently, the affair
ended 6 months ago.
As the election looms,
this alleged affair may be the scandal of the presidency.
Politicians from all sides are reacting.
We'll hear them...
Élysée Scandal
Pygmalion
- Hi, sweetie. - Hi. OK?
Very busy but getting there. You?
I'm worried.
I can't get Mum on the phone, WhatsApp or Skype.
She's on a hot story in Lebanon.
Don't worry, it's normal.
But, is she OK?
Yes. Yes, she is.
Get her to call me.
- I will. - OK. Love you loads. Bye.
What's your reaction to this?
It shows the President's ability
to lie to the people close to him
and the country.
That's unforgivable.
How do we tolerate
such frivolity when a top politician has just been murdered?
It's pitiful.
Today, President Marjorie
has broken the people's trust
like he has broken all his promises
since the beginning.
Simon Kapita here.
Can I speak to Mr Deleuvre?
Kapita? What can I do for you?
Could I see you ASAP?
Of course. No problem.
- When? - As soon as possible.
- Come any time. - Thanks.
I've come because I read your column
about the President's bill, in Le Monde.
We must forget our differences
when the country faces challenges.
Lionel Baudry, my ex-Chief of Staff.
We met when you were PM.
Have a seat.
This bill needs external support.
Because of Beaugendre's betrayal?
Yes. He took 20 MPs with him.
In your party, you have a large group
who oppose Carrère's nudges to the far Right.
I think I understand you.
Is Marjorie in on this?
Of course.
If your group votes for the bill...
He must be in trouble to ask for my help.
Republicanism comes first.
Recently, he took less of a republican tone when attacking
my policies.
That's how it is.
I didn't find it so funny back then.
Marjorie's presidency is a total failure.
The economic situation is a disaster,
industry's ruined,
unemployment's too high,
yet our neighbours have growth and employment.
This bill aims to reverse that.
The country needs this chance.
Not with Marjorie. It's too little, too late.
Are you sure?
The presidential campaign has begun.
Think I'd help him get back in?
I wasn't asking you for that.
Thanks for coming. Good to see you.
In the end,
I chose not to mention Marjorie's affair with Parodi.
Quite right.
Hard to ignore it, though.
It's all over the TV and radio today.
Thank you.
How long?
About a year.
I wanted to tell you, but...
My phone cut off on my way back.
The broken car radio.
The embarrassed silences.
Was that your doing?
I didn't want to upset you.
"Upset" me?
That's the funniest thing you've said in ages.
I've been humiliated,
deceived, betrayed.
For months, maybe even years.
And you didn't want to upset me!
Listen to yourself.
OK, don't go on about it.
And Clémence,
lovely Clémence, who I consoled after her divorce,
the keen, devoted attaché,
with us throughout the campaign?
I understand now!
I feel ashamed.
You could have told me!
You're right.
I know how much I owe you.
What we've been through together.
And I remember each moment with you
over all these years.
I've loved you like no other woman.
But we both know that our love died years ago,
that you wanted to leave a few times.
I did have an affair with Clémence,
but it's over.
The photos were taken only days ago.
A lie to sell papers. You know the press.
An affair in the past doesn't sell as well.
They needed fresh blood.
Nonsense.
Please believe me.
Beaugendre.
Carrère was great.
She destroyed Marjorie, yet remained ladylike.
She's good.
Despite her airs and graces, you shouldn't underestimate her.
I'd prefer Deleuvre.
He'll go down. You'll be facing her.
She'll never know who sank Marjorie with that scoop.
Careful. He's been hit, but he's not sunk.
I can make him run in the primaries now.
He could've avoided it before. Not now.
The party's lost faith in his chances.
And I'm gaining supporters every day.
Once he realises, I'll already have been picked.
So, my job's done.
You're still Home Secretary. I'll need all the polls
and information from the regions.
That's a lot.
Remember your son's shady deal.
Bye-bye.
Face the camera.
Are you French?
No. I'm a Caliphate soldier, bitch!
Here.
Read it.
I won't read that.
Read it.
"In the name of merciful Allah..." I can't.
Look at the camera and read. OK?
On the chair.
"In the name of merciful Allah,
"I condemn the infidel French government
"that..."
Louder!
"...that bombs the women, children
"and fighters..."
- Louder. - "...of ISIS.
"I will be executed if the French army..."
"In the name of merciful Allah,
"I condemn the infidel French government that..."
Louder!
"...that bombs the women, children and...
"fighters..."
- Louder. - "...of ISIS.
"I will be executed if the French army
"does not withdraw from the ungodly coalition
"of the butcher Assad and his affiliates.
"The French government will be
"solely responsible for my death."
You must get her out.
We're on it.
Our teams in Beirut, Baghdad and Syria
can't identify this group.
Using official networks
won't work, I said.
These guys are wary,
they don't want to get blown up by a drone.
He's right.
Captain Mawad isn't listed on
any official chart.
You know so little, don't you!
Mawad has contacted the kidnappers.
- $2 million. - $2 million?
They know she's a journalist.
The video hasn't come via official ISIS channels,
it's via private envoys.
I'm sure you knew that, eh?
It's only us and them who know about it,
which is reassuring.
Are you sure?
- Trust me. - Only the President can decide.
I can't refuse.
I'd be sending her to her death!
They may play hardball
if we're too keen to get her back.
Or sell her to another group.
They trust my contact, Mawad.
It'll get sorted quickly.
- Give me carte blanche. - Pretend to haggle.
But we will pay. Get proof she's alive.
5 round trips to Beirut, 3 in first class
and 2 in a private jet. A lot for a small town mayor.
It cost the taxpayer nothing. That's why I accepted.
What about the $950-a-night hotel suite?
I didn't make the reservations.
Were these gifts from Middle East Investment
to secure the school contract?
I wanted to assess
the quality of the company's work.
Do you think
we spend public money willy-nilly?
Have you ever been a mayor or an MP?
I would like to see your diaries from the past 2 years.
I'm here as a witness, not as the accused.
I'll only answer questions about the school and the accident.
Stick to the circumstances, not to my private trips.
Those trips were paid for by the firm responsible for the defects
causing the accident.
You do not deny it.
Ms Parodi,
in light of
the evidence brought to my attention,
I am informing you that you are under investigation
for passive bribery, collusion
and abuse of corporate assets.
Excuse me.
Yes.
Thank you.
Clémence Parodi is being investigated over
that school case.
Just what we need!
Issue a message of support.
We need to know what she's accused of. It may damage you.
Collusion, abuse of corporate assets.
I'll know later.
Hard evidence against her?
Enough to investigate her.
No messages of support for now.
Wait till we know more.
If the evidence is true, with your affair in the headlines,
imagine the consequences.
I can't just drop her.
Mr President, we have to protect you.
You and the Élysée.
Give me a moment alone.
Hello, Sonia.
Simon.
- Mrs Marjorie wants to see you. - Now?
She's waiting.
Thank you.
Don't tell me you're not orchestrating this farce.
Do you think I'd let you be maligned?
You can't not know. You're too close to Alain.
I was outraged when I found out.
More so than you think.
Welcome to the disenchanted palace.
I'll join you.
Is their affair really over or is it a lie
I'm supposed to swallow whole?
It's the truth.
- Are you sure? - Positive.
You look bitterer than me.
Smile in the face of adversity.
Will you help me get Alain out of this mess?
I don't do self-flagellation.
We must save the presidency.
Ms Parodi! Minister!
Clémence!
- Shagging Marjorie? - Go away!
You have no right!
Ms Parodi!
Please!
Go away!
The prosecutor has the evidence against Clémence.
It's a nightmare.
Is it conclusive?
You have no choice.
She resigns?
Draft a statement.
You can't ask me to do that.
It's a conspiracy!
The allegations are baseless!
This is between us. I won't make any announcements.
The evidence against you is indisputable.
It's laughable!
The prosecutor wants to proceed.
It's for your protection.
Do you want to be harassed day and night?
Do you want journalists outside your home?
Unbelievable!
I'm supposed to be innocent!
So, I have to abandon my bill
because a judge wants my scalp?
Is that it?
Those are the rules.
All governments follow them.
The President's right.
It'd be hell for you.
The statement will say you resigned
in order to focus
on defending yourself. Because you're innocent.
I want a word with you now!
Revenge, eh?
Think I'd do such a thing?
You'll be rid of the mistress.
It's perfect for you.
The President had no other option.
You're not the first. You'll be OK.
After years of legal proceedings and harassment?
It's disgusting!
I'll be lynched. Nobody will help.
You won't.
I won't go down without a fight.
Yes?
- Mr Kapita? - Yes.
Judge Agnès Magnier here.
Coincidence.
I need to talk to you.
About what?
Apolline.
Yes?
I think I am best placed
to know how hard the President has worked
since our arrival here.
Alain is a man of commitment, a man of his word.
I've always loved that about him.
Without my wife and her daily support,
without the sacrifices she has made,
I'd never have reached this position.
I'd probably never have been elected
to any office.
They're good.
You're having to face
revelations of his affair with Ms Parodi.
Does this not jeopardise your marriage?
I'm not the first to go through this.
No way...
It seems to be the curse of the Élysée.
Not as lethal as the curse
of the Pharaohs.
Married life is full of pitfalls.
It's in every novel and film.
She's incredible.
People will support her.
But what I'm most proud of
is the path we've trodden together.
I'm sure we'll overcome this crisis together.
How could I not forgive him?
Nothing can erase all those years together.
The President didn't mention
all that I've put him through,
which no one knows about.
I've been ill for years: I suffer from manic depression.
Bipolar disorder.
Was this planned?
Absolutely not.
Treatment doesn't always control it.
I suffer.
And make those around me suffer.
This'll go viral. Parodi will be totally forgotten.
Those I love most, who have always protected me.
Poor, unhappy Élisabeth and her kind hubby,
poor innocent man!
They've shat on you.
- Valentine! - What? They have!
You're alone, no one cares about you.
It's the pantomime of power.
You got the worst part, Mum.
What goes around...
comes around, eh?
You win some,
you lose some.
Hello, Dad.
Hello.
Matignon, eh?
You finally made it.
Back from Beirut?
- Did you see Samir? - Discreetly.
Don't worry,
that bitch is out of our hair now.
I am worried.
You went in hard.
The DGSE's on it.
They'll find nothing.
Samir's untouchable.
You're not.
Go to Morocco till this blows over.
The school's a problem too.
There's no trace.
Yes, there is. 7 deaths.
You worry me at times.
I'll let you know when to come back.
You're PM. What can go wrong?
Go.
Agnès Magnier,
in charge of the Parodi case.
I'm Apolline's friend. We help each other.
- Any news from her? - No.
But she went to Beirut because of me.
She was investigating Parodi's link to the firm
that built the school.
She sent me the evidence to indict the minister.
She thought she was being followed.
I feel bad.
Who knew she was there?
Her boss, her journalist colleagues.
Scared?
I'm in the hot seat too. We mustn't be seen together.
The Chamber knows I met up with Apolline.
Her phone must've been tapped.
Are you sure?
It has to be that.
It can only be the Home Office,
the Home Secretary himself.
Palissy?
Mawad, my friend.
Two minutes, OK?
Play along with the kidnappers
and make them think we'll never pay.
That's right.
Let it deteriorate.
Mum?
Are you OK?
Yes, fine.
What's going on?
I'm pregnant.
What?
I've just done a test. I'm pregnant.
Subtitles: Eclair Media