A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
[Schiplaecke] This gentleman is Jan de Lichte,
wanted for murder and desertion.
[man] What's he worth?
PREVIOUSLY
Do you understand that I am your new superior?
Yes, I do.
Your workspace
and your maid, Magda de Wispelaere.
My apologies, sir.
[Héloïse] I wonder if it wasn't Jan.
Jan de Lichte? Maybe he has news of Emiel.
Can you take me to the forest?
[grunts]
Still the same girly face, I see.
Francis Tincke, you still can't fight.
[Magda] They gather there from all over Flanders.
I advise you to steer clear of the forest.
Even City Watch won't go, Mr. Baru.
- What's that? - [Tincke] A gift from our mayor.
So we don't forget we're outlaws.
[scream]
[Coffijn] People may be barely keeping their heads above water,
but they should be damn glad to have water.
[French] Welcome to Flanders and happy hunting.
[women scream]
[smothered screams]
[Flemish] Come.
Wait.
Anne-Marie Mestdagh.
[makes pig sound]
No work, no food.
I want to work, madam.
[Jan] Where's my mother?
[Tincke] We're just trying to survive. Day to day. Not everyone makes it.
Actually, most don't.
[birds chirping]
[mysterious music]
Hey.
[baby sounds]
[baby crying]
Give that back.
Sorry, boss.
Don't.
Please, don't do it.
But they don't feel it.
He'll soon forget.
Without defects, you can't beg.
And I'm hungry.
What's wrong?
I won't do anything.
[woman hums song]
[title music]
Ten cents for only 14 hours work. Come on, guys.
Only the strongest.
Get off that cart.
Come on, move it.
Not you. Beat it.
[French] No children.
[Cross-Eyes] Don't push, men.
Cross-Eyes.
Jan, this is Cross-Eyes.
[French] Delighted.
[Flemish] Freckles.
Jan's one of ours, so you know.
I know him.
The youngest Lichte, right?
Have a good war?
Can't complain.
I heard those guys do nothing but booze and grope German bitches.
[laughs]
Your war isn't over yet.
It's not mine.
Good for you.
Saturday at the Velvet Monkey,
Anchor and Sun, only big bets. 100 florins per man.
Don't miss it, Tincke.
[Tincke] 100 florins?
Alright, I'll be there.
You can leave your friend at home.
Get to work, men.
What is this? You can't go home.
[whistles with fingers]
Do you work for Cross-Eyes?
I work for no one.
I find work for the men and take a share of their earnings.
Ten cents for 14 hours? That's slavery.
Slavery? If you say so.
What can you do?
Something.
Nothing. Nothing at all.
[Magda] A little girl, perhaps?
She's often had it in her mouth.
Look, it's discoloured
and the edges are worn where she's bitten it.
I think she's in an orphanage.
An orphan?
Yes.
The image is of the Holy Stella Maris. With the water and the waves.
It's possible that the Stella Maris orphanage here in the city
gives this sort of pendant to their orphans.
It's about all they'll ever get. Poor lambs.
Where is this orphanage?
In a foul place on the seedy side of town.
[harpsichord is being played]
[music stops]
[woman] Not bad.
[man] Bravo.
Héloïse has all the virtues of the bourgeoisie.
[Coffijn] The arts, and so forth. Graduated with highest honours.
I do not doubt it, Dean.
[Benoît] Mr. Embo, may I ask you something?
Yes?
How's the press doing? Does it pay well?
[stammers]
- Father, please. - Son...
A marriage is always a matter of business.
No matter what they tell you.
Michel.
If I may, Mr. Van Gelderhode, the art of printing is...
Art of printing? An art, you say?
Sorry, but art scares me to death. Truly.
It brings to mind attic rooms,
the gutter,
cholera,
syphilis.
My dear Benoît, the Dean has just placed an order
with the Embo Printing Company. A new edition of the Common Bible.
I will give them free to the poor and the outlaws in the woods.
Bread and a bible for everyone. 2,000 copies.
You could also give Embo your printing work.
It's great quality.
You'll see how fast the figures improve.
I don't doubt it. But my sense of reality...
[son] Dad.
What have I said wrong now?
A little finesse, please.
It's not just about money, but also lineage.
That's why Michel and I
have a pleasant surprise for you.
But not many people know this.
The Embo family is very discreet.
Look.
These are the Embo's patents of nobility.
Or should I say: "the d'Embaux family", as history requires.
You see, Michel d'Embaux, like his father,
and all previous generations, is a knight.
Chevalier.
That makes Héloïse a lady. You're marrying into nobility.
Not bad for your little bourgeois family.
What better than to marry Lady Héloïse d'Embaux?
For a thousand years, noble blood has flowed in her veins.
How could you stoop so low, father?
Closing a deal with our title.
She has grit.
A thoroughbred.
Can you saddle her?
[Benoît] Goddamn. Pardon me.
It's true.
Why the hell did you Flemishize your name?
Why not shout it out as we would have done?
Nobility is discreet...
Sir.
We do not shout.
Noblesse oblige.
She's perfect.
[Pycke] Well, Stanislas,
I think we can hang the marriage announcement on the church.
[Jan] Is it much farther?
Is it much farther?
[Tincke] Stop moaning, kid.
[Jan] You like that, don't you?
What?
Playing the eldest, feeling superior.
I am the eldest.
And the best.
[ominous music]
[German] Sir...
could you help us?
[Flemish] Bailiff?
Director?
How may we help you?
Is this from here?
I've a dozen here with that round their neck.
Stella Maris is our patron saint.
Along with Dean Pycke.
It's from one of the girls who, earlier this week, at the castle...
Did Coffijn send you?
Yes.
Are there complaints?
I understood they were happy with the servants.
This one escaped, you see.
They want servants for parties. I send them.
Whatever else goes on is not my problem.
Well, don't tell Coffijn that.
I have said nothing. If you understand what I mean.
The price was correct.
It was all correct, as usual.
Three of them didn't come back.
I'm not complaining.
I'm glad a few go off looking for happiness elsewhere.
We don't have enough food for all these mouths.
Anne-Marie Mestdagh. Good luck with her.
She always had that thing in her mouth.
Liked to suck, I guess.
[forceful laugh]
I'm glad she's gone.
One rotten apple ruins the whole basket.
Come.
Move.
Quickly.
Isabel Mestdagh.
Do you care nothing for them?
No.
You should be ashamed.
Why so?
They may look like angels, Mr. Baru...
but they are she-devils.
[Boy] Tincke, I've got her.
We've got the little bitch.
We caught her.
Good lad.
Tincke, can I cut out her evil eye?
No, can I?
[girl screams]
I'm going to cut it out.
I want to do it.
[Tincke] No fighting, boys.
No, please. Hey, Tincke.
Ho, wait.
[kids bickering]
Take it easy.
[suspenseful music]
[kid] I didn't do anything.
So. Show us what you've got.
He won't hit it.
[kid moans]
[yells]
Nice shot.
[horse neighing]
[German] That way.
[Flemish] Well?
Héloïse? Love at first sight, right?
That's the best. What do you think of him?
He can care for you in the manner you deserve.
I'll think it over.
The decision is already made.
Without my say.
As confessor, I know you better than you do yourself.
You have to admit,
rich, handsome men don't line the streets in this dump.
[clears throat]
Excuse me.
What are you going to play now, Héloïse?
What would you like to hear?
Albinoni is my favourite composer.
After Pachelbel.
The Adagio in G minor?
Our love theme?
Albinoni wrote it because his heart was broken.
Ouch.
That's why it's beautiful.
[laughs]
I think it's good when spouses...
betrothed...
have the same interests.
What else do you enjoy?
Hunting and shooting.
You?
My brother taught me.
Emiel is a hero to me.
As he is to everyone.
I've followed his war exploits for years.
Thank you.
Don't mention it.
I haven't hunted since he went to war.
I do not claim to have your brother's shooting skills,
but many wild boar have been devoured thanks to me.
Would you like to come?
If you dare to hunt with a woman.
[Baru] The City Watch of the future will use their brains.
They'll work systematically
and investigate before acting.
The time when dumb city watchmen
impose their authority by violence is over.
We want to tap into the progress in big cities.
London,
Paris.
To help with my own work,
but also to sharpen your own insights,
I will ask you each to give me a review.
Your personal assessment of crime in this region.
Who works with who? What are they up to?
It may be obvious to you,
but highly enlightening for me.
Those who have trouble writing
can dictate to my assistant, Magda.
[Goorissen] Mr. Baru,
I think, and I believe I am not alone...
In feeling dumbfounded?
The awareness of ignorance is the start of wisdom,
Watchman Goorissen.
I promise all will become clear
if you give my system a chance.
Yes?
One more thing.
Look at yourselves.
Just look.
Look.
Look at yourselves.
Your uniforms are sloppy,
your boots dusty, your hats dirty.
You leave your weapons lying around.
A city watchman sets an example.
From now on, in public you will appear
in a washed and ironed uniform,
with shiny boots. Otherwise, stay home.
To combat crime...
Remain seated, men.
Go on.
To fight crime,
we must always appear capable,
every moment of the day and night.
We are servants of the law.
And the people.
Bravo, Baru.
Fantastic speech. Right, boys?
[men murmuring]
Great. May I invite you to my office?
Certainly, Mayor.
Come on.
The meeting is over. Beautiful.
[men murmuring]
There, Jan. The best whorehouse in Flanders.
If you're coming looting with us tonight,
you need to empty your balls first. My treat.
In that dump?
It used to be a rabbit farm.
There's just as much breeding going on now.
What's that?
That?
Our secret weapon.
It protects against all fuck diseases.
Right, Vagenende?
Tell us what you put in there.
Take a dozen vine slugs
and mix them with horseradish,
deadly nightshade,
nitric acid, beer... Very important.
Let it soak a couple of nights and you get this.
Clients come in,
dip their cock in the barrel.
They never get sick.
I swear, no one.
This is the healthiest whorehouse in the lowlands.
[Meyvis] There's only one drawback.
Welcome to the Yellow Dick.
A glass of port?
A little early, isn't it?
I find it warming.
Cheers. To good relations.
[grunts]
I heard, Baru,
that you have good relations with our services.
Indeed.
If I have learned one thing,
it is that a woman's perceptions
are finer than those of a man.
A man of progress.
Cheers.
A gift from Marshall Batthyàny.
The lion is king of the jungle.
I have great respect for the lion. I'm a lion too.
The Lion of Flanders.
Baru, I'll tell it to you straight.
You were sent here by the States of Flanders.
I had no say myself.
Frankly, I didn't see the point.
Why do we need a new bailiff?
But you're here now, so...
I hope,
after all the pompous rhetoric I just heard,
that you will remember that the City Watch imposes its authority,
acts decisively,
and strikes fear into the people.
[dramatic music]
Am I wrong?
No.
Then we will work well together.
I think so too.
Pleased to have met you.
Pretty, huh?
[Tincke] Is she any good?
Try her.
You must be used to better, Jan.
You think I slept in palaces.
I spent four years in a hellhole.
Mud in Silesia, mud at home. Mud is mud.
I'll drink to that.
And you?
People will always want to fuck, Jan.
True.
The wine used to be better.
Things change.
As you must have noticed.
Will you stay?
Where will you look for your happiness?
America.
You and a million others.
[knocking on door]
For the bailiff.
Mr. Baru,
the men are wondering what you want with all this information.
When we hear of a crime we intervene promptly.
On April 23rd, Antonius van Wesemael claims
that his brother-in-law, Gustaaf de Korte, stole three gold rings.
He claims he caught him in the act
when he, and I quote,
"went downstairs at night
because I heard something weird coming from the ceiling."
Your advice?
I'd say only 20 lashes if he returns the jewellery.
And next time he steals, he's banished.
If we then read in another report
made by one of your colleagues
after a skirmish in the bar The Pump,
that on the 22nd of April
a fight broke out after a lost game of Anchor and Sun,
in which Antonius van Wesemael
lost a bet of 15 golden florins
and three gold rings...
Do you not think there's a connection between these two cases?
That Van Wesemael did not dare tell his wife
he had gambled away her gold jewellery
and invented some tale?
And when we read, in another report,
that Antonius van Wesemael
made a scene at the wedding of his sister to Gustaaf de Korte,
because he felt he was an unsuitable match...
Do you not now think your lashes strike the wrong back?
Yes.
Connections.
And the only way to see them,
is via thorough administration.
[ominous music]
It stinks in here.
[Meyvis] I can't smell anything.
We're too late.
[suspenseful music]
This was your great tip, huh?
A place that's already been raided twice.
I'll visit the tipster later.
You'd better.
Or I'll put you in the Yellow Dick.
Jesus Christ.
So this is what you're up to?
[Tincke] What?
This is what you do?
Tincke's great gang?
Got a better idea?
This will get you nowhere.
He's right.
[Meyvis] Tincke...
Why get all worked up,
when the richest one is right here,
under my nose.
Come on, Tincke, let's go.
Tincke.
[people chattering]
[Tincke] Two on the sun, two sixes.
[burp]
Throw it, yeah.
Who is all that for? Uncle Tincke.
Thanks, men.
Boss, it's time to call it a day.
Don't think so, Shoe. I've just got started.
Here, let's go wild.
Fifty on the sun, double six.
This won't last.
You think?
What is it, Cross-Eyes? Scared?
Just watch out.
[French] You, pal? Where's all your pennies?
Are you done?
[Flemish] Again.
Joske. Another bottle. The boys are thirsty.
Everything on the sun.
Come on, I'm playing.
Tincke?
The Spaniard wants to see you.
Lucky you.
I went away to make you proud.
But there's nothing to be proud of.
FOR EMIEL EMBO
YOUR FATHER
I did something terrible.
I had no choice.
Turnover at the Yellow Dick could be better.
Must get better, Tincke.
We're working on it.
I'll bring your cut tomorrow, Spaniard.
I'll take it now.
While you still have it.
[coins rattle]
Here.
To unwind.
Thanks.
I have something for you.
Lotus flower waste.
Leaves and stalks mixed with tar and resin.
Sell that to your paupers.
Low price, big volume.
So they can forget their troubles.
Opium for the people.
[knocks on door]
Hi. Jan.
Do come in.
I came here to tell you...
that Emiel is dead.
[Héloïse] What?
[Jan] I'm sorry.
[Michel] How?
Were you with him?
[Jan] On the way to Magdeburg, we ended up in the hell of Hohenfriedberg.
Two fronts, a big offensive, all or nothing.
Opposite us was the Prussian ammunition depot.
Emiel decided to blow it up.
I said I'd do it, but he wouldn't have it.
He sneaked out,
crept between the lines.
He was suddenly shot in the back.
A Prussian sniper had spotted him.
I ran over to him,
to drag him to safety in our trenches.
We lit the wick.
And the depot exploded.
I looked down into Emiel's face.
He lay in my arms
and he smiled.
[smothered screams]
He was happy.
Because it had worked.
He's a hero.
He'll always be a hero.
He asked me to give you this.
I'm sorry.
Jan.
We could prepare the guest room for you.
No, thank you.
[sound of horse approaching]
[horse neighing]
[ominous music]
[crow cawing]
[horse snorting]
[horse galloping, neighing]
[Tincke] A deserter.
WANTED JAN DE LICHTE
A murderer.
[Spaniard] I like you, Tincke.
You have more class than the others here.
NEXT TIME
[German] Greet God for me.
[Flemish] We're here with a proposition for Iron Simon.
[Coffijn] One in three Americans are African slaves.
Those 33% do 100% of the work.
We live in the century of the slave.
[Michel] Only time will heal this sorrow.
Meanwhile, Héloïse,
we must carry on.
[Baru] When they realize how strong they are,
they'll turn on the city.