""This film does not claim to depict real events." " Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is, as they say, coincidental."" " Yes." " No." " Maybe." " I don't know." " Get the papers to me at the Hotel Meurice bar by noon." " Hang on." " Hello, darling?" " Goddammit!" " Okay for the Meurice?" " Fine." " See you there." " Le Figaro wants an interview." " They can attend the press conference." " They all ask the same questions." " One answer will do." " My mother!" " The French Open." " Get her a seat." " She needs to get out more." " Hello, darling?" " We were cut off." " I don't know why." " I'm listening." " How much?" " We'll see." " Meet you at the airport." " See you on Monday, sir." " Sir?" " Evelyne, did you reserve the kids' trip?" " Yes, the apartment's all theirs." " What about the tickets?" " Have them sent to their mother." " See you on Monday." " Try to get some rest." " Michelle, did you do as I asked?" " Yes, sir." " You'll be in the royal suite." " It's been entirely renovated." " I saw the photos." " It looks..." " Sensational." "  Good." "  How are the mattresses?" "  I'll find out." "  I'll mention your allergies." "  Yes, thank you." " See you on Monday, sir." " Police." " Come with us." " What is this?" " Jean-Noël, my briefcase." " What's going on?" " You know who I am?" " COMEDY OF POWER" "What's going on?" " I want to see my lawyer." " He's been notified." " Everything's legal." " Go on." " My watch, too?" " Good idea." " Undress, please." " Are you out of your mind?" " You know who I am?" " Your jacket, please." " Now your pants." " You must understand." " There must be advantages on all sides, or some get resentful." " In the sixties, champagne blowjobs were the thing." " Here's how it worked:" "The person giving it made out well." " For the receiver, it changed nothing." " Excuse me, gentlemen." " Senator Descarts, the phone call you were expecting." " Yes, indeed." " I'll only be a minute." " Be my guest." " Don't you have a cell?" " Only for outgoing calls." " I'm no greenhorn!" " What do you think?" " It will go fine, believe me." " I've known him for 30 years." " He has friends in high places." " Even now?" " This mustn't hurt my country." " Don't worry." " If you play fair, so will he." " Pardon my ignorance, but what's his constituency?" " The North, despite his accent." " Here's a humdinger." " Our friend Humeau got caged this morning." "  Isn't that a problem?" "  Not at all." " That will keep them busy." " He'll be interrogated later." " He's in for it." " It's Charmant-Killman." " You know what they call her at the courthouse?" " The Piranha!" " The Piranha." "  Is it all set?" "  Hope so." " I'll know soon." " Do you have the diskette?" " The diskette?" " The CD Rom." " It's all there." " Sweep it under the rug if you like." " Not a chance." " I hate rugs." " I thought so." " Thank you for trusting me." " It's mine." " Hello?" " Indeed." " Let's say around 3:00 this afternoon." " Then bring him in at 2:30." " But notify his lawyer." " Okay, but make sure anyway." " Thanks, see you later." " I shouldn't tell you this, but I'm seeing our friend." " Then don't tell me." " Straight from a jail cell." " Maybe it will help his skin cells." " That wasn't nice." " Not very nice, no." "  Hello, Madame." "  Hello, Benoît." "  Your customer's here." "  Since when?" " A good 15 minutes." " Bring him in." " You can remove the handcuffs." " Hello, Mr. Chairman." " Benoît, a seat." " Thanks." " No one taught you manners?" " We're off to a good start." " Thank you." " We started ages ago, Mr. Chairman." " May I introduce myself?" " I'm Jeanne Charmant-Killman." " I'm the investigating judge." " Jeanne Charmant-Killman!" " I pictured you taller." " Let's hope competence isn't a matter of inches." " Where's my lawyer?" "  What time is it?" " They took my watch." "  I have mine." " He must be stuck in traffic." " This is an outrage!" " I was arrested and put in prison!" " That wasn't my doing." " What do you want?" " That I can tell you." " To charge you with abuse of public funds, abuse of trust, account-rigging..." "The rest when your lawyer arrives." " How is that?" " You're the group's CEO." " So you open the festivities." " Then I'll question no.  2, no.  3 and so on." " What's wrong?" " A skin disease." " I need medication." " Come in." " Hello, Mr. Parlebas." " Hello, Madame." " This is a bit last minute." " But you're here." " Please, have a seat." " I won't last without medication." "  My client needs his medication." "  I heard." " A prison doctor will examine him, as is the rule." " I haven't read the file." " You're in luck." " You have all afternoon." " To read all this?" " Your client's kept me very busy." " Well, I'm done for the day." " You'll have time to catch up." " Your glove." " I saw it, thanks." "  See you tomorrow, then." "  I'm spending the night in jail?" " As I said, not my doing." " But it's an experience." " And you're in the VIP block." "  You don't miss a trick." "  She wants her name in the papers." " Try another tack." " Benoît, you'll handle it?" " I will, Madame." " See you tomorrow." " What's this?" " You're in good spirits." " What's up?" " Humeau." " I think I've got him." " He thought he'd slip through my fingers." " Jacques Sibaud's been a great help." " He doesn't beat around the bush." " I said you ran a medical lab." " What's it to him?" " It just came out in the conversation." " And how was your day?" " The usual crap." " Five HIV positives." " And three new cases of salmonella." " Isn't life wonderful?" " At least your work is useful." " What's the bag in the hall?" " Your worthless nephew." " That worthless nephew is your brother's son." " Since I stopped talking to my family, what's mine is yours, my dear." " I took a shower." " You did well." " Did Uncle explain?" " Can I crash here?" " No, but crash as long as you like." " A little youth will do us good." " Right, darling?" " Of course." " Like I said, make yourself at home." " Careful!" " You should find a job." " How could you quit civil service school?" "  It was the highway to success." "  I doze off on highways." " And I was fed up." " And exhausted like you wouldn't believe." " A lack of ambition?" " Sorry to change the subject, but where do you stand?" "  Where do I stand?" "  What case are you on?" " A whopper." " I'll tell you about it." "  What did I do wrong?" "  It's backwards." " You're right." " No time to shop." " I'll order pizza." " What would you do if you were rich?" " The issue has never come up." " I'm asking." " Simulate expenditures to define the buying impulse." "  That's all they do in school." "  They do that in school?" " Jeanne Charmant-Killman." " The usual address." " Three Margherita pizzas." " Four Seasons for me." " Sorry, one Four Seasons, two Margheritas." " Nice and hot." " Thanks." " Up early?" " Any dates?" " At noon, with my ex." " Ex, already?" " Not very serious." " Nothing is serious." "  What do you mean?" "  Everything is tragic." " But I can still love life." " Can I have another pillow?" " What are you doing?" " Stop smoking and come to bed." " Jeanne." " Jeanne!" " Take out your earplugs." " Humeau's mistress..." "The clothes she wears!" " I'll check the prices." " That will make his day!" " No kiss?" " Tonight?" " How about tomorrow?" " We'll be less tired." " I love you, you know." " Good night." " Good night." " See you tomorrow." " I'm listening." " I'm not sure I've seen all the documents." " I seem to know less than the press." " No smoking in my office." " Go on, counselor." " What are you after?" "  The end of my client's career?" "  I'm just doing my job." " Sibaud replaces me, badmouths me..." "Change your tone of voice." " Two governments trusted me." "  And you've abused that trust." "  In what way?" " You know as well as I do." " The commissions." " I can't check everything." " But I can." " It's not that simple." " It's not that hard." " In macroeconomics, there are different sectors." " Is that so?" " Back to reality, I'll tell you what I think." " I think you shamelessly used your situation for your personal enrichment, to benefit your family and friends." " Not true and grotesque." " It shows you don't know me." " My family knows the value of hard work!" " I didn't go to a big school." " I rose through the ranks, thinking only of my profession." " At least, you left patriotism out of it." " That's you, isn't it?" "  Who is she?" "  My former assistant." " I'll be more precise." " She's your former mistress, whom you made your assistant." " That dress looks nice on her." "  How much is she wearing?" "  How much what?" " The dress, the jewelry..." "Do you know what it all costs?" " No." " Why?" " You dress her from head to toe, you wine and dine her, and you don't know the cost?" " Good thing I'm here." " Here's a statement of all the bills paid with the company credit card." "  This is absurd!" "  You're telling me!" " If I may, Madame." " Regarding the company credit card..." "You know as well as I do that it's an old custom." " The private sector has bonuses and stock options." " The public sector compensates with the company card for minor expenses." "  May I keep this?" "  Sure, if you like." " May I have a glass of water?" " Of course." " But first answer my question, Mr. Chairman." " How do you justify these expenses?" " Your group, as I recall, was founded after the war to ensure France's economic independence, the hub of this independence being francophone markets." " Jacques Sibaud, does your recent nomination imply a new direction?" " Most likely a new identity." " Governments come and go, structures remain." "  Who is this jerk?" "  Sibaud." " Not so "beau."" " Could you hit the switch?" "  What are you doing?" "  Changing bulbs." "  The others were dead?" "  I think they were about to blow." "  Your mom called with congrats." "  I know." " She called me on my cell." " And what do you think?" " Do you know my new name at the lab?" " No." " What?" " Can't you guess?" " I answer riddles all day long." " I guessed." "  Shoot." "  Mr. Jeanne Charmant-Killman?" " That's stupid." " Totally stupid." " It's really..." "Stupid." " What do you think?" " I think it's funny." " Me, too." " He's edgy." " It happens every time I'm on a big case." " Take a vacation, go relax somewhere." " You think that's the answer!" " A slacker's idea, right?" " I'll say no more." "  Is this the family silver?" "  A wedding gift from your grandma." " Knives only." " No surprise." " She hated me." "  Do they cut well, at least?" "  Not like they used to." " Sharpen them." " Can you take off my glasses?" " They're fogged up." " You approve of these frauds lining their pockets?" " It's only normal." " Fraud has to be profitable." " Humeau dipped in the till." " It's easy to produce the figures." " You could do better." " Where do the knives go?" " In the drawer." " Do better?" " Put the knives away right." " That group has often been accused of bankrolling friendly heads of state or opposition leaders, sometimes both." "  That's the real scandal." "  First things first." " I can't play the bull in the china shop." " What's surprising is that your pal Sibaud..." "Oh, please!" " He went after his predecessor." " That's unusual in such a big corporation." " You're right." " So he winds up in court." " They expect that to keep me busy." " Wrong." " When a door opens, I go in." " Who is "they"?" " I'll tell you when I find out." " First, I'll get Humeau to confess." " He can't handle prison." " If he wants out..." "Hello." " This is for you." " Have a nice day." " It's time." " Out you go." " You have 10 minutes." " So I'm free?" " I wouldn't know." " 10 minutes." " Could you hand me that pair of clean pants?" " Get them yourself." " Why are you staring at me like that?" " You want tickets to Disneyland?" " Hello." " Are you busy, my dear?" " No, no." " I hear you're on the warpath." " You could say that." " I just wanted to wish you the best on your saint day." " Am I right?" " That's sweet, Jacques." " No one else remembered." " Really?" " Are you free for lunch any time soon?" " I've got amusing stories for you." " You're putting me on the spot." " I'd love to, but it's not very orthodox." " Of course, if you look at it that way..." "Let me finish with Humeau..." "Certainly." " I'm unforgivable." " And I know you're a stickler for principles." " I just hope you wrap it up soon." " I'm doing my best." " I have to go." " My customer is here." " Thanks again." " See you soon." " See you soon, Jeanne." " Hello, Mr. Chairman." " I brought you here to check a few things." " Are these plantings recent?" " Fairly recent." " 53 orange trees and 29 lemon trees." " You do have the invoices, right?" "  That's why you brought me out?" "  It wasn't to get some fresh air." "  Take these handcuffs off, please." "  Not until I check a few things." " Nicole Humeau?" " Why?" " What time is it?" " Justice Charmant-Killman." " It's 9:30 a.m., and I have a search warrant." " Don't worry, darling." " Are the kids home?" " They're asleep." " They got in late." " We won't search their rooms." " I don't see your suits or shoes." " Don't you live at home?" " Sorry if your husband leads a double life." "  This is vile." "  You don't say." " You're vile." " My husband lives here." " He always dresses casually." " In photos, he always wears a suit." " Never the same one." " Not to mention the shirts, ties, cufflinks." " A vast choice for telling time." " An Omega, two Cartier..." "A must!" " Company gifts." " You don't say." " My husband did nothing wrong." " His colleagues, other CEOs, influential politicians, all expressed their support." " He has an admirable wife, in any case." " Back to the courthouse." " So, no tree nursery invoice." " Now, this flat where you set up your mistress, 5830 sq.  ft." " in the most expensive part of town." " Do I give you the price?" " I didn't buy the flat." " You can't prove it." " You're bluffing." " I'm bluffing and you're lily white." "  Next question." "  I won't answer." " I'll wait for my lawyer." " He's on his way." " Sit down." " I can't sit still!" " I'm ill, you know!" " The ball's in your court." " Some people have done much worse than I have." "  Those who back you?" "  I never said that!" " Why are you hounding me?" " To set an example, once and for all." " You won't come out too badly." " And it will do the nation good." " You know what I think?" " Tell me." " There's hot coffee in the kitchen." " This year we'll rent a house on the beach." " We'll be happy." " We'll be..." "What did you use to say?" "  Visible for each other." "  That's right." " Visible for each other." " Is Felix home?" " He just got in." " He spent the night out." " Really?" " Look what I found in a drawer." " This really takes us back." " Remember?" " I made this in a jiffy out of nothing." " You could always make things in a jiffy out of nothing." " You don't lack talent." " What do I lack?" " I'll tell you some day." " See you tonight." " See you tonight." " I don't intend to smear their leaders." " Still, the interrogations and indictments keep coming." " Michel Humeau's in a bad way." " I don't intend to intimidate or destabilize anyone..." "I hear you there, see you here!" " Turn it off." " I can't stand it." " So, you spent the night out?" " To my great benefit." " What's that?" " Poker." " I cleaned a few people out." " It won't hurt them, as my aunt says." " You intend to earn a living playing poker?" " Get angry." " I love it." " How about lunch, a place with good wine?" " Quick, then." " I'm seeing bigwigs at 2:00." " What are they doing?" " Playing soccer." " Only 12?" " They don't have enough players." " I'd better fix that." " I'll show you his cell." "  Isn't that what you wanted?" "  Absolutely." " When you're used to 5 stars, it's a little barren." " That's an understatement." " Who is in charge of keeping the place clean, warden?" " We had it repainted not long ago, but we're short on funds." " Ah, funding problems!" " Beware of lawyers." " They tend to slip in treats during their visits." " Do a search after each visit." " That's just what we try to do, Madame." " The other cells are identical." " That's worrying!" " So, who won?" " No one." " We play for fun." " Then enjoy!" " I don't have a Swiss bank account." " I have no foreign accounts." "  You're not taking it down?" "  Your lawyer's not here." "  Why isn't he here?" "  Ask him when he arrives." " That doesn't mean we can't chat." " How about those huge commissions you've always paid left and right?" " The Herod file." " Is the sum right?" " Could be." " It's common currency in our business." " Common currency." " A charming term, but not for the Revenue Court." " It seems you shamelessly squandered state funds." " How can you say that?" " I brought in huge sums." " The payments I made enriched the group and the nation." " And yourself as well." " Using front men." " All because of a woman." " But you loved her?" " We broke up, you know that." " You'd be the only one not to know." " She's an ocean away." " An ocean away, in a sumptuous flat you bought her, overlooking Central Park." " She wrote you a letter." " Shall I?" " Please, don't." " She's thirsty for blood." " She's a compulsive liar, and she's jealous, you see?" " See what?" " I was crazy about her." " I gave her everything." " Then virtually overnight..." "What happened?" " I don't know." " My desire for her died." " You got hot for something else?" " Here's what she cost you:" "Swimming pool vacuum, latest model." " 4,000 euros." " Swimming pool, 50,000 euros." " Not including the pool-house and spa, which she had moved." " Two spas, two drillings." " But I don't mean to scare you." " All from the group's coffers." " You know how many people earn minimum wage in France?" " You know this man?" " René Lange?" " Are you on good terms?" " He's a politician." " Politics isn't business." " Some people think so." " Got a bone to pick?" " Absolutely not." " He does as he wishes." " He dumped me, like the others did." "  What others?" "  Those I did favors for." " Delombre, Holeo, Boldi." " They answered to you?" " They dumped you, too?" " They all dumped me." " Isn't that how it goes?" " It's that prison..." "You should hear the screams at night." " The new guys, the young ones..." "As soon as they get there..." "They're in for it." " Not in the VIP block, I hope." " I've had it." " I can't take anymore." " I can't take anymore." " I'm exhausted!" " I need treatment!" " I do what I can, try to keep busy, but I can't take anymore." " Please, I'm begging you." " I'm begging you." " Okay, permission for outside hospitalization." " Don't worry about it." " I still have work to do." "  I'll do room 220, then." "  Okay." " I won't be long." " Good night, Madame." "  You can do my office now." "  Thank you." " Hello?" " Christ almighty!" " What?" " Was it an accident?" " Christ almighty!" " What is this?" " What moron thought that one up?" " It could be just an accident." " Looks more like a fuckup than an accident." " What a bunch of clowns we're surrounded with!" " Is she badly hurt?" " According to my sources, no." " Pathetic." " Pathetic!" " Let's go." " She's starting again." " They said you were unconscious, they'd sedated you, but that it's not serious." " I know all that." " You never know when to quit." " You work like a lunatic." " You fell asleep at the wheel." " Imagine!" " I imagine very well." " I think they rigged my brakes and steering." " Don't be silly." " You were just tired." " Get me some hot chocolate." " I'm craving hot chocolate." " I can worry, can't I?" " We have the right to live normally." " You're out of luck with me, honey." " I'll never give up." " They won't get away with this, believe me." "  You're crazy." "  Maybe, but I'll go all the way." " I'll let you rest." " I'll be back later." " Ah, Felix!" "  You're sweet to visit." "  I love hospitals." "  Your hot chocolate?" "  Black, no sugar." " What a gorgeous bouquet!" " We'll ask for a vase." " I'll get one." " Black, no sugar." " Thanks, sweetie." " Who are the guys outside?" " My bodyguards." " So you won't worry." "  You're hard on him." "  Me, hard?" " I don't think so." " I was thinking earlier..." "Do you have a picture of your son?" " I've never even seen him." " He's awfully cute!" "  How old is he?" "  Three." "  Why don't you bring him over?" "  He's always with his saintly mother." "  Yes, and so?" "  I'm not wild about saints." " Me neither." " I'm in good company these days!" " Could you get me the papers over there?" "  Do you want your glasses?" "  Yes, please." " Thanks." " Boy, he doesn't waste any time." " I get it now!" " It was him." "  Who?" "  Humeau." " I let him out for first-class care, and he has my car rigged." " And I wind up in the hospital, too." " Why him?" " He was weird the last time." " He didn't scratch." " He gave me shifty looks." " He was plotting it." "  You're paranoid." "  Maybe, but I don't think so." "  Humeau's an underling." "  That would surprise me." " It surprised him to be the tree that hides the forest." "  What forest?" "  The one growing silently." " I've had a feeling all along." " I hate to say it, but I know them." " The big scams are elsewhere." " I'll haul them all in." " Right-hand men, coworkers, advisors." " They haven't seen the last of me." " But..." "Why do you think they gave me those bodyguards?" " Well chosen, aren't they?" " Strong, impressive." "  They're looking after you." "  To throw me off track?" " If they're smart, and some are, they'll take extra-good care of you." " I'll take advantage of it, believe me." " Come in." " Aren't you spoiled!" "  Who brought that?" "  Some florist." " I've been outdone." " Shall I open the card?" " Sure." " Jacques Sibaud." " There's a note." "  I told you he was a part of it." "  Of course!" " You think I'm stupid?" " Did you send those flowers to charming Mrs. Charmant?" " You're sure she got them?" " Always send flowers to the unfortunate." " You plan to let her go on with this?" " I think we should use the promotion ploy on her." " There's no promotion possible." " I didn't say, "Give her a promotion," but "Use the promotion ploy."" " Come to think of it..." "They're supposed to move from the courthouse to a new building." " Perfect!" " Is it spacious?" " There's lots of room." " She'll have a large office." " That's always appreciated." " She also asked for an assistant." " Good idea." " After this incident, and with all those cases she has to deal with..." "But we mustn't end up with two snoops instead of one." " Got any women in stock?" " Why a woman?" " Because women love to do dirty tricks to other women." "" Justice Charmant promoted..."" "How big is the new office?" " It's a surprise." "  Can we help?" "  You must be joking." " We worked well here, didn't we, Benoît?" " This is from everybody here." " How sweet." " It was a toss-up with "Aubade" but we chose "In Love Again."" " Smells nice." " You made the right choice." " Thank you." " They're all expecting you." " What flight are you taking?" " None." " I'll send it all by email." " Holeo will stand in as usual." " That's his job, and he loves hot weather." " Very well, Mr. Chairman." " Yes, Mr. President." " Experts are already assessing the project." " It's too early to say." " These are high-risk countries." " Naturally, I'll gladly make the trip." " I just cancelled my flight on Holeo's insistence." " I'm on top of it all." " Thank you." " Good-bye, Mr. President." " Jeanne." " I've been thinking of you too, Jacques." " Quite often." " You once said the only goal in life is excellence." " I'm trying to be a worthy disciple." " Yes." " The Presiding Judge is here" "But..." "I'm very busy these days, and I need to get my bearings." " I'm sure you're running the show just fine, but I miss our lunches." " So when you have a minute, call." " It won't take all night." " I'll leave you to your territorial stake-out." " One more thing." " That black suit looks great on you." " Jeanne!" " I'm so glad to see you." " Thanks for putting me here." " It's sumptuous." "  Big enough?" "  Almost too big." " And the design is superb." "  So are you." " You look great." "  I feel great." "  Hello, Mr. President." "  Hello..." "Benoît, right?" "  As loyal as ever?" "  Yes, sir." "  Glad you like it." "  You know me." " It's all ready to go." "  Can you find your way in this maze?" "  With my eyes closed." "  I want a word with you outside." "  Certainly." " You'll be glad to hear you're no longer working alone." " I've assigned you someone." " She has plenty of experience, especially with politicians." "" She"?" " Who is she?" " I'll introduce you." " What do I care about this trivia?" " Question me about my international role." " About how you fleece friendly nations?" " Or fund parties?" " You're obsessed." " Let me tell you..." "Excuse me a minute." " Erika Eymard." " Jeanne Charmant." " My two favorite judges." " We're on the same floor." "  How long have you been here?" "  She just arrived." " Adjoining offices will make communication easy." " René Lange is mine." " I'll continue what I started." " We can share him." " You want to sink him, so do I." "Sink those who think they can swim." "  Great." " I'm going back in." "  Work hard." " I'll see you later." " I work alone." " Why didn't you warn me?" " I need you both." " You'll suit one another." " It's good for the image of justice." " It's not the image of justice I care about." " It's justice." "  Good evening." "  Good evening, Madame." " Madame Killman!" "  Ground floor or parking lot?" "  Ground floor." " By the way, I didn't ask to work with you." " I figured as much." " But I agree with you, it's not clear." " Someone thinks we'll hurt each other." " That's what I think." " We'll prove them wrong, that we're equal to them." " We'll get those machos by the balls." " See you tomorrow." "" We'll get those machos by the balls!"" "" See you tomorrow."" "  Alone today?" "  My colleague's at your place." "  May I?" "  Thanks." " Don't mind me." " Everything's fine." "  I'll be back in two hours." "  Fine." " I owe you one." " What are you doing here?" " Philippe isn't home yet?" " Not yet." " I've had your keys for three weeks." " They're on the kitchen table." " I'm exhausted!" " We moved today." " They stuck you in a closet?" " Not at all." " A sumptuous new office." " It's very nice." " Like everyone, I read about your promotion." " It worried me." " Me, too." " It smells fishy, but I'll show them." " Do you like your apartment?" " Great!" " I call it "Flat Out"." " I need some tea, or I'll collapse." "  Want some tea?" "  No, thanks." " Tea!" "  They're nice, but there's no privacy." "  I have nothing to hide." " What's this about crosswords?" " Tea's a good idea after all." " Want some?" " I devise crosswords." " It's fun." " I've being cranking them out for ages." " I have a daily, 2 weeklies, and 3 pseudonyms." " And, of course, three casts of mind." " I work when I want, and I'm having fun." "  Make any money?" "  Enough." "  Any time for your son?" "  Sure." " Is your case going that badly?" " No, but the situation is annoying." " They stuck me with an associate." " Do you know who did it?" " Officially, Martino, the Presiding Judge." " I've known him for years." " A nice guy." " I doubt it was his idea." " If only I could flush them out of their holes!" " The creeps!" " With a little luck and lots of grit..." " What's your colleague like?" "  Hard to tell." " She's nice enough, young, competent." " She has a good reputation." " Pretty?" " I suppose." " Depends what you like." " You want me to introduce you?" " If it will help, I'm all yours." " I'm going to betray a judicial secret." " Tomorrow I have to play my cards right." " I'm questioning Holeo." " You know who he is?" " He's a head honcho." " Friends with everyone." " Old playboy type." " Got any cookies?" " As you must know, Madame, our group makes all sorts of investments." " Major companies use our services." " There are three or four hundred of them." " You misunderstand, Mr. Holeo." " I mean your special relations in countries where the group has interests." " I fail to see the connection with your investigation." " I just want to make sure you're not behind the disappearance of large sums of money." " That again!" " Mr. Humeau, the former CEO, had several audits done." " He found nothing wrong." " He chose to ignore it." " You know where he is now." " But..." "There are several foreign accounts in your name, Mr. Holeo." " Perhaps, but they're not mine." " I simply manage them." " I'm a middleman." " For whom?" " No one in particular." " Certain sums transit through those accounts." " To whom?" " That depends." " There are all types of subsidies." " I know that, and oddly enough, some subsidies look like kickbacks." " You overvalue an operation, then help yourself." " So I'm asking you, who is the money for?" "  What money?" "  You don't remember?" " I must admit, I don't." " Do you remember him?" " Delombre?" " Sure." " He smokes cigars in the morning." " It's very unpleasant." " How well do you know him?" " I know he works hard." " But our activities are completely unconnected." " Things are very compartmentalized with you, Mr. Holeo." " Where is Delombre hiding?" " I couldn't say." " All I know is he wanted to take a vacation." " You think he's basking in the sun?" " I advise you not to do the same." " I don't intend to, Madame." "  You also know Mr. Boldi?" "  Yes, of course." " I suppose your activities are also unconnected." " Yes, of course." " They're unconnected." " Thank you." " I won't keep you." " Please sign your statement." " Of course I might..." "In fact, I probably will question you again." " Don't go too far." " Holeo will talk." " He's petrified." " Any headway with Lange?" " None." " I'm afraid he's way down the totem pole." " Give me one more shot with him." " No, keep him." " I'm pulling on another thread." " Benoît, did you listen to us on the radio last night?" " Sure." "  Was it good?" "  As usual, Madame." "  Was I good, too?" "  Very good, Madame." " It arrived this morning." " It's a letter of denunciation." " Again?" " It never ceases to amaze me." "  Humeau's babe." "  I recognized her." " But why you?" "  To save you work." "  But I'm interested!" " I like Humeau." " Let's go check out the slut's flat." "  Up for it?" "  It will be a nice change." " You're still here?" " Orders, sir." " Sorry." " Come to bed." " What are you doing?" " This can't go on." "  You hear me?" "  I hear you." " I hear." " What you say and don't say." " It's my job." " You're investigating me?" " What's in my head?" " You don't give a shit about anyone." " That's the truth." "  Are you nuts?" "  Either they go or I go!" " They protect us." " Spare me your fantasies." " You're perfect." " Smooth as stone." " Who do you think I do this for?" " For who?" " Sure, don't answer." " It's much easier." " The ivory tower." " That's your mother's stare." " You've become a stranger." " So have you." " We're shadows who sometimes meet in a guarded flat." " Who am I to you?" " Do you know?" " Stop playing with your wedding ring." " Take it off, if it bothers you." " What are you doing?" " What are you doing?" " Do you know what you're doing?" " Do you know?" " This is your house." " It's your house, so I'm leaving." " Let's go." "  Do you want me to drive?" "  No, it's okay." " Where to, Madam?" " Where to?" " The office, as usual." " It's 4 a.m." "Yes." " Let's go to the office." " Where else?" " Get down!" " All clear." " You can get up, Madam." " Sorry." " DIE BITCH" " You okay?" "  I'm okay." "  Where did you find that?" "  In the clerk's closet." "  Did you find what's missing?" "  How can I, in that mess?" "  Here, this is real coffee." "  That's sweet." " I called the agency." " They have a 700 sq.  ft.  rental nearby." " Too big." " I just need a studio." " We'll find you one." " Good morning." "  You're already here?" "  If you only knew, Benoît." " Thanks for everything." " Now I have work to do." "  You'll manage?" "  I may not look it, but I'm strong." " We'll find you a flat." " Looking for a flat?" " That's my coffee maker!" " I never handled commissions." " So, I don't know about suitcase sizes..." "Don't play with me, Mr. Holeo." " It's beneath you." " So, how did the money move around?" " I have no idea." " I talk with leaders, to find out what they want." " Now I get it, you do the haggling." " The chit-chat." " Down there, a good chit-chat means a good deal." " You chew the fat to make a deal for the group." " Different customs." " How do the secret funds work?" " That's what you call it." " They're funds made available by heads of state." " It's normal." " It's the same everywhere." " Some are transferred to various organizations, usually charities, or organizations that help themselves." " Great, in countries where you can die of appendicitis!" " I deplore it as much as you do." " Believe me, I'm sincere." " Excuse me." " Could we postpone this interview?" " I'm not well." " I have heart trouble." " Of course." " My clerk will see you out." " There's no need." "  Thank you for your kindness." "  I don't want to kill the sinner." "  I was awful." "  You're tired." " Marco told me about last night." " Never a dull moment!" "  Did Holeo break down?" "  It's rather me who broke down." " He's tougher than he looks." "  He did the dying man number." "  Everyone knows he's sick." " We located Delombre." "  Where?" "  The Caribbean." " We'll have to forget him for the moment." " I'm so tired, I don't give a damn." " Marco told me you're flat-hunting." " It's none of my business, but you can stay at my place in the meantime." " Sorry, gentlemen." " A flat tire." " Just my luck." " I'll go wash my hands." " Why did they put this one in charge?" " I preferred Michel, but Sibaud has certain qualities." " Be serious, Boldi." " He's as stiff as a board." " They'll soon pay him off with a pad of stock options." " What a shame!" "  A flat, the one time I drive." "  How unfortunate!" "  Champagne?" "  I would love some, Boldi." "  How did it go with the judge?" "  Your girlfriend?" " I cut our conversation short." " I wanted to see you first." " Did you read the rants of our friend Humeau?" " You have my complete trust." " I'll talk to the press, too." " That's kind of you, but I wanted to say..." "I believe you've offended our friends." " They would have preferred you to go down there." " You can't settle everything via your computer, Mr. Chairman." " Don't worry, old man." "  I know what I'm doing." "  Taittinger!" " We're spoiling you." " I can see that." " Did Jean-Baptiste tell you about the CIA?" " Yes, the CIA was there." " Everyone was, in fact." " Look, I know what I say." " And I know what I'm doing." " Nice of you to visit!" "  Good timing." "  As usual." "  What's the box?" "  I'll explain." "  Smaller than my place, but nice." "  Enough for me." "  You didn't like your friend's place?" "  Sure, she's sweet." " But a week was enough." " So what's the box?" " I don't know." " It came two days ago." " Philippe asked me to bring it to you." " How is he doing?" " Not too cheerful." " It's understandable." " Where do you stand with him?" " Nowhere." " I'm waiting." " I won't force him to take the first step, and yet..." "What do you think?" " I don't want to interfere." " Guess who it's from?" " Jacques Sibaud." " He's bullshitting me." " No, he's not." " He's backing Holeo." " He still trusts him." " He's just trying to use me." " I'll send back his wine." " Don't do that." " I'm thirsty all of a sudden." " We'll see." " Anyhow, he's late." " I had Boldi arrested." "  You did?" " He's in jail?" "  Yes, he is." " While they plot behind my back, I'm pulling out the heavy artillery." " Look." " Isn't he cute?" " You're right." " They'll be careful." " I've gone into high gear." " You know, Boldi..." "He's the kickback king." " If it's done right, it's overhead and tax deductible." " Or in a Swiss bank where names become numbers." " That's what I'm after." " The names behind the numbers." " They'll never let you poke around." " Too risky." " I have certain powers, you know." "  The powers you're granted." "  I don't care." " I know I can smoke the poachers out of the woods." " What are you looking at?" " You." " I'm looking at you, and listening." " You look like a shrink." " Try it." " You'd make a mint." " You're nuts." " I'd spend my day on the couch." " Snoozing, of course." " What a shame." " You're the only one I can talk to." " I can't with others." " I can't give you much." " I'm not asking for anything." " I just need you to listen." "  Okay, but I'm thirsty." "  Shall we open a bottle?" " You're nuts!" " It needs to rest at least two weeks." " I'll take you to the local bar." " You're a good boy." " If politics involves pressing on soft spots, you have to expect turbulence." " This judge is impossible." " She doesn't get the rules of the game." " When you know how she started!" " How?" " As a student, she boarded with the Charmant family." " I heard she cleaned their house." " Must have done right, since she married the son." "  A successful takeover." "  She moved out." " She rented a studio." "  How do you know?" "  I just know." " Anyway, I'm sick of her snooping around." " We didn't expect Sibaud to be useless." " He's totally inflexible." " He can't move his ass." " I hope the others hold out." " The natives are up in arms." " Have a seat." " My colleague will take your statement." " Here we go, sir." " The last act." " We can't reach your wife." " Is that normal?" " My wife?" " You can talk with your mouth full, Mr. Boldi?" " It's to quit smoking." " No, thanks." " Tell me, Mr. Boldi, does an envelope of $800,000 ring a bell?" " Madam, money is the oil you use to grease the gears so that the market runs properly." " An envelope of $800,000..." "It doesn't mean a thing." " It's peanuts!" " I put myself in your shoes." " All this work, all these files, these thousands of pages." " And I'm told you keep office hours at the courthouse on weekends, as well as your time in court." " I wonder how you manage." " Answer my questions, and I'll tell you." " Frankly, I admire you." " I've thought it over." " Never mind a change of cell." " I want to get out." " I understand." " Prisons aren't up to snuff." " Understand me, Mrs. Charmant." " I wouldn't want to be taken for a ride." " I don't intend to take you for a ride, Mr. Boldi." " My power lies in my address book." " Big deal." " I know them all." " They've all been indicted." " Delombre hasn't." " He's on the run in the tropics." " The party funding, that's him." " Not to mention..." "A lot of other things." " That's why he's lying low abroad." " Official secret." " Does Sibaud know?" " Sibaud!" " He knows." " Without knowing, even though he does know." " He's the one with signature power." " So he gives his trust." " He doesn't look, he just signs." " He forks out like everyone..." "Or else he's dead." " Excuse me?" " Humeau, for instance." " He's dead." " Where did he go wrong?" " Him..." "He's special." " It's more a matter of personal incompatibility." " But getting back to the cash..." "Before you extract, you have to grease palms." " We grease the leaders' palms, they take the cash, and they do what they want with it." " The books are separate." " But it's not against the law." " It's even endorsed by customs." " No one talks about it, that's all." " It's taboo, but normal." " And Jacques Sibaud does the same?" " The same procedure?" " Sibaud!" " He is a spectator." " Give him a desert, in six months the sand's gone." " When you do business, you move, you take risks." " Sibaud's hopeless." " Madam, squealing on people at my age feels very strange." " I understand you, Mr. Boldi." " But if you can't stand prison..." "I saw that poor Humeau." " I feel sorry for him." " He's like a zombie." " He took it hard." " But let's not dramatize." " He'll get over it." " My colleague is signing his release." " You made the right decision, Mr. Boldi." " Go on." " I'm listening." "  Search warrant!" "  You can't." " I can." " Glad to see you!" " What are you doing here?" " Give that back." "  No way." " It goes under seals." "  I bet." "  That's illegal." "  Think so?" " This is entirely legitimate." " I only enter golf scores on my computer, to calculate my handicap." " How is it?" " You have to sign." "  No way." "  Don't be childish." " It could cost you." " The key to the safe." "  I said, the key!" "  I don't have it." " As you like." "  What are they doing?" "  Their job." " Behind the panel." "  This is ridiculous." "  I agree." "  Two black books." "  You can't." " They're confidential." " You're overstepping your prerogatives." " Look, Mr. Sibaud." " You're the one who came to me." " Frankly, we're a long way from where we started." " We both knew that, right from the beginning." " That's why I won't allow this." " Jeanne!" "  Sorry." " Did I scare you?" "  No, it's me." " I'm silly." " A pan bagnat, from my region." " That's sweet of you." " I'm so tired." " We're here, Madam." " We'll always be here for you." " That's sweet of you." " Didn't I already say that?" "  You overslept?" "  Sorry, I broke down." "  How did Sibaud take it?" "  In his own way." "  He'll use his golden parachute." "  The poor thing." " How much?" " That much?" "  Hello, Madam." "  Hello, Benoît." " Did you sleep well?" " Very well, thanks." " More hate mail, two letters today." " Only two?" " At times, I think I'm being followed." "  Isn't it flattering?" "  You're out of control today!" " That's good, because we've got work to do." " Let me guess." " Delombre's back in town?" " You got it." " With his lawyers, Wogner and Parlebas." "  I like him." "  Good." " We see them at 3:00, with their tanned client." " They're usually tanned, aren't they?" " How will you handle it?" " Very simply." " I let him do his spiel, then I read the charges, and I book him." " From sun to shade." " I was amazed when he swallowed his cellphone chip." " What a nutcase!" " No, like all crooks, he's done his thinking." " He figures they'll be grateful." " The rabble fears oblivion." "  Martino!" "  Where?" " Your Honor, will you toast the outcome of this investigation with us?" " Temper your joy." " I'm glad the law is the same for all." " There are journalists upstairs." " Celebrating an arrest is bad for our image." "  See you tomorrow." "  Tomorrow is Sunday." " I'll see you on Monday." " Your friend will talk." " So will the others." " They'll tell all and drag you down." " I have to tell you." " I'm not part of their schemes." " The judge will say you didn't stop them." " What will you reply?" " I have other options." "  We've gone whole hog." "  Oh, please!" " Your group is bled white." " You can't say no." " I understand how you feel, but it's true." " You've hit bottom." " Don't kid yourselves." " We're all in the same boat, and we've hit a storm." " But the wind is dropping, and the ship has held up rather well." " Senator, I don't know if your optimism impresses or worries me." " It's an objective analysis of the situation." "  What do you think?" "  Things are settling down." "  The group's getting devoured." "  All because of that jerk Sibaud." " So let's think positive, as they say." "  At least Sibaud's off our back." "  At what price?" " True, he did get a golden handshake." "  As you say." "  Good for him." " But otherwise, the system held up well." " And I'm sure our friends in trouble can withstand the pressure." "  Boldi, for instance." "  Oh, him!" " That's another story." " We'll deal with Boldi later." " The group may have been gobbled up, but our structure is intact." " For now!" " Don't be so negative." " Your father's bank changed names, didn't it?" " You got swallowed up, too." " Did it change anything?" " You got reorganized." " We'll reorganize, too!" " What about that woman, that diabolical judge?" " Will she keep making trouble for us?" " I understand she's getting a promotion." " Again." " The last one was a disaster." " I admit it was something of a shambles, and we got taken." " We were wrong to give her that associate." " This brandy is excellent." " Your file says, "He sent his boy for caviar."" " I'm not going down over caviar!" " The lifestyle doesn't go with the official salaries." " What do I plead?" " Tax exemption, reinvestment..." "It's pragmatic." " It's legal." " What isn't legal?" " Who cares what they do!" " Let them keep fighting it out." " They're animals." " Elephants dance together, you dance alone." " Merge while there's still time." " Not credible." " Too small." " I'm warning you, there's a facelift in the offing." " Sounds like the BBC during the war." "" London calling."" " What does he mean by a facelift?" " That they're on the alert." " They're selling off." " And to avoid an audit, they buy off sleazy politicians." " So what do we do?" " Everyone's controlled." "  It's the rule." "  What is?" " Invoke state security to let your pals get rich?" " I'm not saying it's moral, but it's the rule." " The Presiding Judge wants to see you." " Damn!" " Time flies with you." "  Yes?" "  Madam Charmant-Killman." " Send her in." "  You don't look so good." "  I'm okay." " Just a little tired." " How are you coming along?" " I contacted my Swiss counterpart." " He explained the system." " The funds go through various money markets, then they end up in London." " You're moving fast!" " I have to." " I'm counting on you to contact the Chancellor." " Look, calm down and listen to me." " You look really beat." "  You should take a vacation." "  Not until the Swiss banks answer." " The situation's changed." " The new group intends to start on a new footing." " I don't believe a word of it." " It will be the same, the same schemes and new expenses." " You lost your objectivity." " I need a fresh eye." " What do you mean exactly?" " I'll be honest with you." " I don't want you to run into trouble." " So listen to me." " There are too many vipers involved." " Let it rest for a while." " If you won't take time off, I can have you transferred." " A real promotion, something good." " Don't they call my post the most powerful in France?" " They say lots of things." " Think it over, my dear Jeanne." " You know I'm very fond of you." " I'll take care of your bonus." " You can keep it, Your Honor." " To buy yourself a pair of balls." " What did he want?" "  He thanked me." "  It's the least he could do." " I mean, he said to take a vacation." " He's cutting me loose." " Got a cigarette?" " He said it like that?" " He was a little uneasy." " I sent him packing." " What are you going to do?" " He said he needed a fresh eye." " I may be paranoid, but I feel like the victim of a conspiracy." " So, what are you going to do?" " Would you take over for me?" " If you asked me to." "  If I didn't?" "  I'd refuse, of course." " Then I'm asking you to." " I'm not sure they'll want me." " They have to watch out." " The case has made too much noise." " So, again, what are you going to do?" " I'm going home." "  What's the matter?" "  I tried to call you." " I turned off my cell." " What is it?" " Bad news." " Your husband jumped out the window." "  He's dead?" "  No, hospitalized." " I came for you." " The cops called." " They couldn't reach you." " They located your nephew." " Then I told them I'd find you and bring you over." " Did they say how he is?" " Vaguely." " But he's alive." " Alive?" " Yes." " You were right." " Martino hinted I'd probably take over the case." " For the moment, anyway." "  You okay?" "  How is he?" " Out of it." " They say his condition is serious, but not critical." "  Can we see him?" "  Right now there is no point." " But he might wake up any minute." " Erika, this is Felix." " Philippe's nephew." " I work with Erika." " Those two hoods are cops." " They want to question you, but you scare them." " Let's go see them." "  Gentlemen." "  Madam." " Sorry, but we need to know..." "Do you know of a gun in your apartment?" " A gun?" " No." " Where?" " In a shoebox, wrapped in tissue paper." " I knew nothing about it." " What's the link?" " We wondered why he jumped out the window when he had a gun handy." " Maybe he was reluctant to die." " What I liked right off was his smile." " Amid all those hypocrites, he had that smile." " He said I lacked something." " That he'd tell me..." "Some day." " What do I lack?" " Ask him." " You think he'll pull through?" " I think so." " I'm not ready to grieve him." " Madam Charmant, things look better." " His condition is stable." "  Can I see him?" "  He's asleep." " Just a peek?" " Come with me." "  I can't let you go in." "  I just want a peek." " I'm sorry." " Madam." " Mr. Chairman." " I heard about your husband." " I'm sorry." " What are you here for?" " Are you ill?" " I went into a depression after I was released." " Really?" "  I'm sorry." "  Don't be." " You weren't the cruelest in this affair." " I hope it all works out, Madam." " So do I, Mr. Chairman." " Good-bye." " Excuse me, I must return to my flock." " Funny doctor." " People used to say that priests were soul doctors." " He's a body priest." "  Or a soul cop!" "  What?" " We used to say priests were soul cops." " Only God can judge." " The real question is, what is God?" " Another time." " I'm going to bed." " You should, too." " Go on." " I want to stay." " You should go rest." " Erika's right." " If you stay, Philippe will sleep, but you won't." " You always know how to convince me." " My dear aunt, I'm a great Cartesian." " I feel like I'm in a dream." "  You want a ride?" "  It's too far." " I'll take care of you." " You have a car?" " I'm off." " Sleep well." " You have work tomorrow." "  Hope to see you soon, Erika." "  See you." " I forgot to tell you." " Your trusty clerk Benoît is a real bastard." " He's the mole." " I caught him calling a guy named Le Blanc." "  You know him?" "  Yes, vaguely." " I'll explain tomorrow." " Good night." " Good night." " She has a nice ass, but I bet she's a bit loony." "  What makes you say that?" "  Her profession." "  Why not say I'm loony, too?" "  I almost did." " There's no job without risk." " What's that?" " Not bad." " Three jacks against two pairs, aces high." " They didn't do you any favors." " What are you going to do?" " Three jacks!" " What a world!" " You plan on continuing?" " I don't know." " You did your job." " You cleaned up good." " You're naive, nephew." " There's still a lot of dirt left and right." " Believe me." " So..." "Will you keep going?" " To hell with them."