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No, I'll be in China with the French President.
Not until February, I think.
All right, see him about it.
We'll talk on Friday. Good-bye.
Minister, hello.
How are you?
Very well, and you?
The President is delighted to take you to China.
French industry and diplomacy
must work together.
Your predecessors never realized that.
Sorry, I have a meeting.
That's all right.
- Hello, honey. - Had a good day?
- And you? - Great.
How are my girls?
See you next Monday.
Good night.
We can redo your essay tonight. It's no good for now.
I'm going.
Your sister could help you.
See you later.
Seen her essay?
- Hello, sir. - How are you?
Very well.
Are you all right?
Hands up!
Freeze!
Freeze, I said!
Open your mouth!
Time to sleep now.
Sit.
You had separate rooms?
No.
He slept here when he got home late
orwhen we fought sometimes.
Is the name vilar familiar?
No.
Get out, we're here. And don't make a sound!
Move!
On your knees.
Get up.
Cooperate and you'll be fine.
Your money's what we want.
We mean business.
We'll send your family a finger to prove that.
First, write we want 50 million euros.
By Thursday,
in used notes only.
They'll get delivery instructions.
Ifwe spot the cops anywhere,
you won't be seen again. Write.
They can't access my account.
It's my money. They can't touch it.
Shut up and write!
It'll take more than two days.
Do it, Chairman!
Who gets it?
Head office, Rue de Touraine.
We asked who!
Jean-Jacques Garnier and André Peyrac.
Can I write to my wife?
Okay.
Ifshe doesn't pay up, you die Friday.
Just tell her that.
Or rather,
sayyou love her.
You may not get another chance.
Let's do it.
Swallow this!
Who told you to take the mask off?
Ifyou see our faces for even halfa second,
you die. Get it?
Get it?
Ifyou come out or we come in,
wear the mask when we tell you to. Get that?
Get it?
Dip your finger in this!
Okay, good.
I followed the planned procedure.
His full powers are delegated to me until he returns.
With his accounts frozen,
his family simply can't pay.
I suggest that the group advances the ransom.
Ofcourse.
How much?
The kidnappers haven't said yet.
I think we should plan on around 20 million euros.
We agree it's an advance?
Yes. The group won't have to pay.
Can you guarantee that, Mr. Peyrac?
I'd be honored to, Mr. de Montrouveau.
But I'm not that solvent and I'd make a poor guarantor.
Don't be idiotic. You know what I mean.
Are you sure they will refund us?
Please, Montrouveau. I trust them.
If it's a problem, I'll guarantee the loan.
Certainly not.
We'll just wait and see.
Well, since we all agree,
do what's necessary, Peyrac.
Had you noticed anything odd lately?
No.
Unusual phone calls?
Not that I recall.
- Is the name vilar familiar? - No.
And you, Mr. Garnier?
Me neither.
An urgent delivery, sir.
It could be from a corpse.
-Just to impress you. - It's his.
The nail's bitten to the quick.
He's always done that.
They want you to deliver the ransom.
Why is that?
As his friend, no doubt. An old friend.
You have a code name. Touraine.
They'll be Davout.
Be in your office at midnight on Thursday with 50 million euros.
You'll receive orders by phone.
- Is it his writing? - Yes.
Sit down, Mr. Garnier.
We've identified Vilar. A fellow poker player.
I wouldn't know.
Two days ago, the chairman signed a 50,000-euro IOU.
He'd lost that much.
Impossible. He never staked that much.
It's absurd.
It wasn't unusual.
He'd even go much higher.
We're hearing from casinos too.
It could be more there.
Much more in fact.
Do you know what they do among crooks when people don't pay up?
Cut a finger off.
Our chairman isn't a crook.
He isn't, no.
But I don't know whom he saw.
And you don't either.
How can he act like that in a position of responsibility?
It's his private life, Minister...
Be quiet!
Two weeks ago, the French President
spoke of him warmly in public.
Almost fraternally.
The head ofa leading French firm
must be irreproachable.
Don't you think employers have a bad enough image as it is?
What do you plan to do?
- His wife wants to pay. - I understand.
But I don't approve.
The police stay on it.
Yes, Minister.
If I may, I'd like a word with Mrs. Graff in private.
There's nothing to discuss. My clients want to save him.
So do I. But paying won't guarantee his safe return.
Can you guarantee it, Inspector?
No.
But whom do you trust? Crooks or the police?
You think solely of public order.
Refusing to pay will discourage other kidnappers.
Too bad ifa man dies!
Please, keep your humanist theories
for the courtroom.
I'll talk to the family.
Please do, Mr. Garnier.
Remember, a ransom handover is always very dangerous.
They'll move fast to profit from your fragility.
You won't resist the pressure. No one can resist.
Don't refuse anything, but let me handle things.
No, I won't take any risks.
You know what will happen ifthe media find out and they will.
I heard about his finger on TV.
It's part oftheir strategy to contact the media.
But, together, we can control information.
That can be a decisive advantage.
In a psychological war, get all the weapons on your side.
I don't know.
I need to think.
It's a matter of hours.
It's your decision alone, Françoise.
No one will criticize you.
Even so, you need to know you can't pay 50 million.
That's not the problem for now. We'll negotiate.
How high can we go?
Given his personal funds, up to 20 million.
No higher?
Reasonably, no.
Are there accounts you don't know about?
In Luxembourg or Switzerland, maybe.
No. I'm sorry. He had no secrets from me.
Financially anyhow.
That amount is the sum ofall his available funds.
I thought we were richer.
So did I.
But you're no doubt right, Mr. Peyrac.
20 million then.
- It's not even half. - It's still a lot.
They'll think twice.
How can his fortune have melted away like that?
We have to negotiate.
You make me sick!
With my father's life at stake, you want to haggle?
Sell offa few subsidiaries. It won't kill us!
Take it out of my inheritance ifyou want.
The group's money and your father's aren't the same thing.
The group won't pay.
It will advance funds, but it won't pay.
You now have all the information you need, Françoise.
We'll pay.
Very good.
I've drawn up an IOU foryou.
You don't waste time.
There was none to waste.
I was asleep. I couldn't put the mask on.
Dip your finger in this!
Come on! Move it!
20 seconds minimum.
That'll do.
- Please... - What?
What time is it?
What the hell do you care?
There are guys in a car outside.
You think it's them?
No, it's the police.
Paoli,
are you with the prefect?
Put him on.
Walser.
Good evening.
Your men seem to be staking out our building.
Their presence endangers the hostage and Mr. Garnier.
Respect our decision
and pull your men out.
Calm down, Mr. Walser.
The rules were stated clearly.
I wanted us to work together but you decided otherwise.
We'll do what we need to do.
Ifanything happens to either man,
ACCEPT! WE REPOSITION THE CAR THE BIKE MAKES THE LINK
you'll take responsibility publicly.
As you wish. I'll pull our men out.
If Mr. Graff is found dead a day or two from now,
that will be on your conscience.
Davout here. Go ahead.
Touraine.
You have the money?
I have 20 million.
Davout? You hear me?
You don't understand.
We're not negotiating.
We told you 50.
It's that or nothing.
Hurry orwe'll send another bit ofthe chairman.
I'll give you a minute.
No, your position will become untenable.
Hurry. He's finding the time long.
Think it over. 20 million is a huge sum.
It's 1 30 million francs.
The minute's up. What's your decision?
20 million is our limit.
What do you suggest?
We wait.
- That's all we can do. - For another finger?
Marjorie, please.
We can't get more.
How many fingers before they realize?
Let the police step in.
That's not the best plan.
You have another?
- They'll kill him. - They won't.
It's not in their interests to kill him.
Dead, he's worth nothing.
Like I said, we have time to negotiate.
They have room to maneuver.
They can keep on amputating.
You'll stop at how many fingers, Mr. Walser?
Stop, it's unbearable!
So we must react.
Give me 24 hours.
I'll think ofsomething.
Who loves you the most?
Who really wants to see you again?
I don't know.
My older daughter.
- She drives? - Yes.
Perfect.
Write and tell her to hire a Mercedes.
She puts the money in the boot and awaits our orders.
She'll be Miami. Any cops, she gets you back in pieces.
Make it good.
She needs to cry.
What are you waiting for? Write!
That's good.
A trembling hand, like you're sobbing. very good.
And this...
"In Monaco, Graffdefied oil magnates.
By dawn, he had lost 1 .5 million."
"Mr. Graff's wild nights.
Jet set, bosses, shady frequentations, a fatal mix."
Not to mention the editorials. Seen the communist daily?
- I found it indecent. - Really?
What the French find indecent are the amounts he lost
when 250,000 people are homeless!
How can wejustify our austerity measures now?
I'm aware ofthat, Minister.
There'll be more talk ofgolden parachutes and stock options.
The government has to take a stand.
The President has asked me to speak after the cabinet meeting.
Warn the family I'll be harsh.
As harsh as our fellow citizens' feelings.
Even if, personally, I feel sorry for him.
I'm afraid I have no choice.
Any other revelations, Mr. Peyrac?
Only strictly private matters, madam.
The chairman left me to manage the group.
Are we to understand that you actually ran the group?
At this tragic time, I cannot let people think that.
But, fear not, the group is perfectly healthy.
Industrial continuity is ensured, whatever happens.
The employers are panicking.
The unions worry me a lot more.
We must distance ourselves. We won't pay for Stan's bad habits.
We can't turn our backs on him with his life at stake. It's obscene.
The unions are bound to react soon.
They'll press for wage talks within the week.
I don't think so. Not before he's released.
But we must quash the rumors.
We need to meet the unions now.
They have to see we need to present a united front.
You thinkyou can convince them?
It's worth trying.
Firstly, the police haven't confirmed the figures mentioned
and we believe them to be pure fantasy.
I myselfwas shocked by what I read in the papers,just like you.
Mrs. Keller too.
She asked me to speak of her shock
at the "obscenity" ofthese amounts.
There is no question, no question at all,
ofthe group paying the ransom.
This is a private matter
and our staffwill not pay "a rich boy's gambling debts".
It's a matter of principle.
Miami.
No, I wasn't followed. I made sure.
No, only 20 million. I have it here.
I can bring it to you now.
But we can't get 50.
I swear it's true.
Bad news, Chairman.
They won't pay up.
No one wants you back.
Impossible.
20 million when you're worth 20 billion?
I don't have 20 billion.
We're not dumb. It's in the papers!
That's the group's turnover, it's not my money.
Don't try to hoodwink us, we're not the IRS!
I don't own the group. I'm the main shareholder, okay!
I don't have 20 billion!
But you lost 1 .5 million at cards!
I never lost 1 .5 million!
Cut it out, it's in the paper in black and white!
Put your mask on and come out!
Move your *** ***!
You want us to chop offa hand? Pluck out an eye?
You want that? We'll do it! Where do we start?
I swear I'm not that rich.
Don't swear! Don't swear, okay!
Look at this.
Don't look up. You know what happens ifyou do.
- So, what do you say? - They're confusing everything.
Whatever.
Write.
Say they're ***, that it's your last letter.
We want the money where and when we say
or they get a piece ofyou each time they stall.
Write that and be persuasive.
You can go back in.
LAST MOMENTS OF BLISS BEFORE HELL
SPRINGTIME IN PARIS
THE DOUBLE LIFE OF STANISLAS GRAFF
There's no end to it.
You knew about this?
This particular one or in general?
So you did know.
A mother knows her own son.
He told you?
Certainly not.
But one senses such things.
Don't you?
Hints... Tension... However minute.
Françoise would ask me for advice.
- She knew? - Not much more than I did.
It was never serious enough for him to leave. He loves her.
This can't go on. Stan's image gets worse by the day.
Talk Françoise round. No one else can.
But how?
Speak from the heart. You love him like she does.
She may not agree on that. And she's not the only one.
I'm known to be a bit cold and direct.
People take it for a lack ofaffection.
So prove you love him.
No.
People will think I'm scared of being ruined.
Play on that too.
Don't be cynical, Peyrac.
I asked about Paoli. He's a good cop.
Let him handle it.
No. I won't endanger his life.
There's no other solution.
Walser is getting the money we need.
I didn't know.
You found 20 million. He has methods of his own.
It's absurd. He'll never get it.
He thinks he can.
Even so, how will you pay it back?
We'll manage. I trust my husband.
If he finds 30 million, I'm not alone.
Mr. Graffwon't accept. He'll never forgive you.
I prefer that to his death on my conscience.
Don't you, Mr. Peyrac?
Don't do it, I beseech you. You'll ruin him for good.
I'll live with that.
Do you notice anything unusual?
Anything that could help the investigation?
You didn't know about this apartment?
Your husband bought it 1 5 years ago.
Thejanitor says he'd come a few times a week, an hour or two.
At night too but rarely.
How is that possible?
- Be quiet, Mr. Peyrac. - You weren't as firm with him!
What do you mean?
You didn't play your part.
An industrialist's wife doesn't let him go to casinos,
spend his nights at poker
and keep mistresses.
Thankyou for being so frank, Mr. Peyrac.
Now get out.
Forgive me. I got carried away.
Get out, please. Get out right now.
Leave us, Mr. Peyrac.
It's always the same.
Everyone feels guilty and accuses others ofwhat they feel.
I think he is truly affected.
He has your husband's interests at heart.
And his own.
Yes, probably. And yours too, believe me.
Was it really necessary to bring me here?
I wanted to avoid it, but you're not very cooperative.
I feel like your opponent.
We'd work more effectively together.
You'd suffer a lot less too.
Any further questions for me?
No. Not for now.
How could you?
I should have made a spectacle of myself?
Cried? Caused a scene?
Why bother?
I accepted foryour sakes.
No, because it suited you.
You couldn't face reality. You were a coward.
I never blamed him. He's not like other men.
He has more energy than others,
greater appetites and desires.
I couldn't keep up with him.
But those he loves, he loves like no one else.
You forgive a man like him everything.
You realize what running a firm of 1 30,000 people is like?
Being responsible for it?
Imagine the weight on his shoulders?
He needed his affairs.
There are three in this issue!
Don't blame him!
He's a poor husband but a perfect father.
You must keep on loving him. I still do!
And stop reading these crap magazines!
Here we go.
Dip your finger in it.
Could I eat something first, please?
All right.
Thankyou.
It needs changing.
Does it stink?
- No. - It's okay then.
- Good evening, Roland. - Hello, Mahaut.
What is it?
I have a letter foryou.
It's about Stan.
Come with me.
Read it and give me an answer. Yes or no.
It's the kidnappers.
It must be a joke. Why would they contact you?
No idea. Because all your phones are tapped?
I guess Stan gave them my address.
I've done as they asked. I stop here.
Ifyou call the cops, he dies.
Don't worry.
- Do you know Ostend? -Just yes or no.
I'm sorry. Yes.
Police!
Get out with your hands up.
The envelope was on my car seat.
With instructions and a letter for Walser.
I didn't open it, ofcourse.
I did exactly as told
and that's all I know.
Walser simply asked if I knew Ostend.
He's booked at the Thermae Palace.
We'll be there.
- How many nights? - One.
- A train ticket? - Not yet.
If he goes by car, it could be anywhere.
Put two teams on his ***.
I'll call the Belgian cops.
All right.
He's here.
Mr. Walser.
Thankyou.
Room 1 1 1 .
Walser's coming out with the bags.
Walser's coming out on the beach side with the bags.
It could happen anytime now.
*** it! The horse...
Badger.
What? Where?
No, I didn't tell anyone.
Listen...
Get out!
- What is it? - Belt up!
What's going on?
What are you doing?
Belt up, we said!
What is this ***?
Climb in.
Move it, ***!
On your knees.
Lie down.
Belt up!
Welcome, Stanislas.
I'm your new host.
I hope your new accommodation is more comfortable than the last.
I heard that it was pretty Spartan.
Your situation isn't an easy one
but if I can do anything,just ask. Okay?
All right.
We had to move you fast. For security reasons, see?
We had a ransom pick-up but the cops were there.
All over the place.
They must think we're washouts.
They thought we'd walk into it. Honestly...
Then again,
it's theirjob.
It's normal for them to try.
But why did your lawyer let them know?
You pay him, right? They don't.
Still, for now, you're not paying him either.
So who is?
I don't know.
It's a good question. Think about it.
Who ran the risk ofcalling the cops?
Your family?
Your lawyer? Or Peyrac?
Whoever did it doesn't want to see you again.
It's outrageous!
You deliberately endangered my husband's life.
I'm the only one who can decide that.
Ifanything happens to him, I'll never forgive you!
I know.
That's why I make decisions alone.
You can always blame me if he dies.
You could never bear that responsibility.
Ifwe fail, I must be the only one responsible.
Certainly not the family.
I imagine I have no choice.
There's only ever been one sensible choice.
Do what you feel you must.
I can't resist any longer.
Why are you so silent, captain?
You don't really want me here.
I'm just trying to be discreet.
Talk to me.
To reassure you?
No.
Everyone does and it only makes things worse.
Just talk to me.
I don't have anything interesting to say.
Well, why are you here?
It interests me why a policeman should move in.
The inspector didn't say?
Not really.
I suppose he doesn't tell a woman everything.
You're the hostage's wife.
A husband would be the same.
That intimacy is problematic,
the bonds ofaffection...
So why are you here?
To protect you.
Am I in danger?
Not directly.
But you might panic ifthey call.
Change your mind, say, decide to act without telling us.
Or accidentally endanger his life.
You're keeping an eye on me.
Keeping an eye on you to protect you.
Let's say that.
I'm here to help. That's all.
Want some?
No, thankyou.
Tell me about him.
I don't know him, madam.
You know so much I don't know.
His fellow gamblers...
Have you met them?
I never have.
What are they like?
Rich. Usually always the same ones.
A best-selling writer, businessmen...
They hunted together?
No, he hunted with others.
He didn't mix them up.
Business with some, poker with others
and hunting with people in neither category.
I don't know any ofthem.
I know.
His family was a fourth circle. A separate one.
Why?
I don't know. Hejust didn't mix them up.
Does that seem normal?
I've learnt that people
act for themselves and their loved ones.
However odd it may seem.
Tell me about his mistresses.
It's not worth it.
You're scared of hurting me?
It can't be worse than the magazines.
There's nothing to say. Nothing interesting.
I'd like to know what interested him.
Novelty.
The pleasure ofan immediate, fleeting encounterwith no ties.
The need to seduce too, I guess.
Yes, that's right.
We guess.
Here, Stanislas, look.
This will be a change from usual.
I've cooked up something good foryou.
No reason you shouldn't eat well, right?
Enjoy.
Is your finger ok?
Does it still sting?
Less.
Good.
- Can I have the TV on? - That's what it's for.
Nothing more about us.
We're soon forgotten, huh, Stanislas?
A few days below the radar
and we're not news anymore. Forgotten.
Françoise, could we have the TV off?
At least during meals.
It's getting to be unbearable!
You haven't turned it off in six weeks!
That's how it is. You don't have to stay.
He's my son.
You're right to remind us. We tend to forget.
Enough!
Stop playing the perfect wife you've never been.
He wouldn't have strayed otherwise.
Others think so too.
Stop it!
You're both totally mad!
Thankyou, Captain.
What says he's still alive?
Experience.
They've put a lot into thisjob.
A lot oftime and a lot of money.
With him dead, they lose it all.
We haven't had other body parts either.
That's important.
They lack confidence. They're hesitating.
It could turn out badly for them.
The more they mutilate him, the heavier the sentence.
These guys are professionals.
They're testing us and preparing a new handover.
They have to regain confidence.
Ifthey feel confident, we can surprise them.
That takes time. It's only natural.
So we'll help them.
No mask!
Back to the wall.
Photo session.
Two weeks without news, they'll be *** themselves.
They act smart, then demand proofyou're alive.
Easy to act tough for the Interior Ministry.
Right, Chairman? Unlike us.
Have you washed often in six weeks?
It's the first time.
No wonderyou stank. They thought you'd catch a chill?
I read you're a hunter.
For business or pleasure?
For pleasure.
Where did you hunt?
Everywhere.
In Sologne, Alsace, Belgium...
Bear in Romania. I've hunted in Africa too.
You bagged elephants?
No, but lions I did.
I prefer that.
I like elephants. They're big, strong,
wise and majestic.
To think a feeble creature like man can kill such an animal...
That sucks. Right?