Femme Fatale (2002) - full transcript

For once I believe you

because it's just rotten enough.

We're both rotten.

Only you're
a little more rotten.

You got me to take care
of your husband for you.

Then you'd get Zachetti
to take care of Lola,

maybe take care of me too, huh?

Then somebody else
would have come along

to take care
of Zachetti for you.

That's the way you operate,
isn't it, baby?

Suppose it is?



Is what you've got cooked up
for tonight any better?

I don't like that music anymore.

Mind if I close the window?

You can do better than that,
can't you, baby?

Better try it again.

Maybe if I came a little closer.

How's this?
Think you can do it now?

Why didn't you shoot again,
baby?

Don't tell me

it's because you've been
in love with me all this time.

No, I never loved you, Walter.
Not you or anybody else.

I'm rotten to the heart.
I used you just as you said.

That's all you
ever meant to me...

until a minute ago.



What the fuck are you doing?

When I couldn't fire
that second shot.

Do you know what time it is?

Listen up.

At 2200,

Wetsuit's down the hole
when the snake hits the carpet.

Security lifts the key.

I terminate the torpedoes.

Charm the snake into the stall.

Bait and switch.

At 2220, Wetsuit turns
out the lights.

Glasses on. I bag the snake.

Key in the bag. Bag to the boat.

No radio
unless absolutely necessary.

Code red,
five minutes to blackout.

Drop everything. Walk away.

If the cops catch you,
tell them the truth.

You know no one.

Got it?

Got it?

You have your passport?

The plane leaves
tomorrow at 0700.

And remember,
no names and no guns.

Are you high?

Then stop dreaming, bitch.

This isn't a game tonight.
People can die.

Now get moving.

You forget something?

Good evening.
Thank you very much.

Oh, it's a picture of you?

Okay.

Let's go.

I just got
to go to the bathroom.

You know how it is for girls.

You come back? One minute.
I just got to go.

With an ass like that,
I don't think you need makeup.

Mademoiselle Veronica?

Okay, baby. Baby, wake up.

We got to go.

No. No.

Time to go.

Mademoiselle Veronica?

The key's in the bag.

Get moving!

Move!

You better get out of here. Go!

Asshole! You said,
no fucking guns!

Where's my fucking passport?

You better kill me now, bitch.

Oh, shut the fuck up!

Understand? Dead!

Merde.

Racine...

Yeah.

No, you don't understand.
I need a passport yesterday.

Did you get it?

Yeah. Here.

Wait!

Did you hear that?
What is that?

Hey! What the fuck
are you doing?

Excuse me, madame, but I believe
this is a free country.

I'm entitled to make any picture

of anything and anyone I want
from my balcony.

Go fuck yourself!

Go to church. Try to save
your soul. Got you!

Yes!

Lily!

Lily!

Lily!

- Lily!
- Lily!

Lily!
Lily!

Hotel Sheraton.

Lily!

Maybe I should hire you.

I got you, fucking bitch!
Come on!

Before I snap your
double-crossing neck...

just tell me one thing:

Where are the diamonds?

Payback time, bitch!

Lily!

Lily! Lily!

Oh, Lily!

Lily!

Lily!

Lily!

Mon dieu. Lily.

Holy shit!

Oh, my God!

Yup.

Yeesh.

Hee-hee-hee!

Merci.

Excuse moi.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

You were sleeping.

Are you okay?

I didn't mean to frighten you,
I'm sorry. Are you okay?

I'm sorry.

Vous parlez français?
Oui.

I'm sorry.

Yes. Yeah.

California.

I mean, I grew up in California,
but I live in Washington now.

And what do you do, in life?

In life?
Oui.

Well, I started in software,
uh, ordinateur

and, uh, made some money

and found out that I was
interested in other things.

Like what things?

Well, like the whole world.

I went back to school
in Washington.

I got a degree
in foreign relations,

I taught for a little while.

And then got a posting
at the State Department.

Oh.

America is a country
very big, no?

Oh, oh.

Very big.
Is this your first trip?

Yes. I begin
my new life there.

France is no good for me.

Oh, how can you say that?
France is a fabulous country.

Really. It's the queen
of Europe to me.

The art, the history,

the sense of language,
Stendhal, Racine, Balzac...

I lost my baby there.

I'm sorry, I don't know
what to say. That's terrible.

Please forgive me.
I didn't know.

It's okay. It's okay.

That is just awful.

Hola? El señor Bardo
no esta en la casa en estos momentos.

What are you doing, trying
to dodge bill collectors?

Nick, it's Johnny.

I know who you are.

What are you doing?
Working.

Something I could sell?

Could be. I just need
one more piece.

Another shot of that table?
What's happened to you?

Are you eating?

Barely.

How'd you like to take a break

from your masterwork
and make some real money?

What are you selling?

You know who
Bruce Hewitt Watts is?

As strange as it may seem
to you, John,

photographers actually read.

You know, books, magazines,
even daily newspapers.

All right, smart-ass.
Who is he?

New American ambassador?

Bingo.

But guess what, he's got a wife,

but no one seems
to have a picture of her.

Maybe she's camera-shy.

No. She's not "camera-shy,"
she's got a past

and she's not talking about it.

I did some checking and found
out she's really French.

Married before, with a kid.

So? I got an ex I don't
talk about either.

What's wrong with that?

Nothing, except for you don't

dodge photographers like you've
got something to hide.

So you want me
to nail her, right?

You are the best.

Come on, you know
I don't like to do this.

I feel like shit, and besides,
I am retired.

On what, IOUs?

I'm not just your agent,
Nicholas.

I'm your bank,
and you're way past due.

I want you to do yourself
a favor and go to work.

I get five figures
for this picture.

All right. What's her schedule?

She arrives
by private jet tonight.

Hey, I got to go. Bye. Bye.
Take that picture.

Shit.

Wow.

Is this Nicolas Bardo?

Speaking.

You took a picture
of Mrs. Watts?

Who wants to know?

Leonard Shiff, head
of Watts' security.

I'd like to buy it.

Well, I'm sorry, Mr. Shiff,
but it's already been sold.

Unsell it. We'll double
whatever you got.

That's very generous, but I...

I don't think you realize who
you're dealing with, Mr. Bardo.

We know all about you.

Your overdrawn bank account,
your criminal record.

Excuse me, sir...

I suggest you get that picture
back, and you bring it to me

at the residence tomorrow
morning, 11:00 a.m. sharp.

Don't keep me waiting.

Sir, hold on.

Hello?

Park Bardo in the office
until I can get...

Hold on a second.

I don't believe it.

This paparazzi scum
is wearing a wire.

Make sure it doesn't
get past security.

Hold on.

Ah, bonjour...
Yeah, bonjour.

Un minute, pal.

Damn it! Damn it!
Oh, shit.

Is the bar open?

Yes, of course, sir.

But you can't stay there.
Please move your bike.

Can't leave it there.

You can't leave it there.

I know, I know.

Please.

Okay.

Hi. I'm sorry to bother you,

but I rented
this room last night

and I think I left my disk here.

Disk?

When I got home,

I checked my laptop,
and the backup disk was gone.

And it's the only copy I have.
I have been searching

like hell for it.

Then I remember, the only place
I could've left it was here.

So do you mind if I come in
and just take a look around?

I don't think it's a good idea...

Thank you very much. Thank you.
I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Oh, my God, I got so much
information on that disk.

You didn't see a disk, right?
Actually, it's not a disk.

It's not like a CD or DVD
or anything like that.

It's called floppy.

It's like a black thing you
introduce in the computer.

Oh, oh, oh. I am remembering now
that I put it there.

Because I was working in bed.

I love, I just love
to work in bed.

I bet you do too.

Anyway, let me just remember
exactly what I did.

I just... I sat over here.
Oh, my... Oops!

I sat over here, and I put it on
my lap because it's a laptop

and I just plug it over there.
And, uh...

Actually,
you know what happened?

It happens that I wasn't alone.

I wasn't alone, and...

Oh, my God!

That's not your business.

Well, uh, no, it's not.

It's not, but it is.

Because... excuse me...

Are you all right?

I think I can help you.

I have been working in a
hospital for a couple years,

I'm kind
of a candy striper myself.

Just sit down over here.
Give me your arms.

Put them up like this:

And relax, relax! And breathe.
Breathe and relax.

And now listen to me.
Listen to me good.

I know because I know.
I have been accused

of having an overactive
imagination, you know,

but when
a classy woman like yourself

checks into an airport hotel
in the middle of the morning

with a bunch of bullets
and a gun

there's only one word
that follows.

What word?

Bang!

Now, if a guy walks in, maybe
there doesn't have to be a bang.

Maybe there is something
to talk about.

Coffee?

Well...

Maybe we should start
with some introductions?

I don't care who you are.

And I definitely don't
want you to know who I am.

All right, that's fair enough.
Let's call me Harry.

And let's start with the shiner.
Who is beating you up?

Must we talk about this?
Yes.

Or we are going to go find
a local police station,

and we are going
to talk about it there.

My husband.
All right. Why?

He has...

difficulty...

to control his temper.

Why does he lose it?

Because I can't live
with him here.

Why not?
I have a past here.

I was safe in the States,

but here, it only
takes one photo.

Like the one today.

I took that picture.

So Harry is Nicolas Bardo.

Why did you follow me?
To get more photos?

No, no, I...

I came to tell your
security goon, Mr. Shiff,

that I couldn't stop the picture
from being published.

I am sorry.

Anyone can see that.
You've wasted your time.

This espresso is cold.

Can I get you another cup?
Why?

There's nothing more to say.

Can I go now?
You have the gun.

Sex shops are open all day.

I don't think
I'll be going to one.

How can I be sure?

Just stay with me.

I need air, but I don't
want to talk anymore.

Ladies and gentlemen,
your attention please.

We advise you not to leave
luggage unattended

and to beware of pickpocket.

Right when I got divorced,

I just decided to leave Spain

and come here
to Paris to reinvent myself.

That kind of thing.
You know, I mean,

I've got these crazy
photographer ideas.

Don't think for a second
that I'm a paparazzi. I hate it.

You know, I feel like shit,
but I have to make some money.

That's the only way.

But there is a square
here in Paris

full of coffee shops, beautiful.

This one particular...
In the corner, you know?

With these light reflections,

and I saw something
that changed my life.

Shh.

It's a great story, Nicolas.
This is the best part.

I know, I know.
Maybe another time.

It's a great story.

But right now I'm very tired

and I would just like to take
a warm bath and relax a little

before I go home, okay?

I understand.
Thank you for today.

I'll be waiting out here,
just in case you need anything.

You don't trust me, do you?
No, no, no.

It's not that.
It's just being careful.

Are you all right?
No.

I'm out of my medicine.

There was a pharmacy
in the airport.

Oh, that's right. My...
Excuse moi.

My inhaler is in my car. They
could refill it for me there.

That wouldn't
be being careful. I...

Nicolas, take my car...

take my purse...

if you're so worried
that I go somewhere.

You can call a taxi. I...
Come on.

Yes, Nicolas,
I could call a taxi...

but I'm not going to do that.

I'm not going to need
this in the bath.

Wait, wait. Hold it.

Definitely not going anywhere
without them.

Are... Are you flirting with me?

Was I?

Well...

I believe so. Yeah.

I didn't mean to.

It's just that...

all your boyhood stories...

make you so...

damn lovable.

Was that the point?

Bonjour.
Bonjour.

Well, it's not mine,
but somebody loaned it to me.

Lay down.

Oh! Bonjour.
Merci.

This doesn't make much sense.
I'm Chief Inspector Serra.

Maybe you can help me out.

I said it already.

But, okay, all right. Mrs. Watts
is trying to kill herself.

I stopped her.
So she set me up for you guys,

to get me out of the way.

That's it.
How did you come up with that?

You know, I read
a lot of mysteries,

and I just figure out
the endings halfway.

I put the clues together,
and I know what happens.

What happened, Mr. Bardo

was a car belonging
to Ambassador Watts

was found in your possession.

I know that.

On the front seat
was a gun, bullets,

a blouse and dress.

The only thing missing
is the woman.

Where is she?

I don't know. I don't know.

You check out the hotel?
Yeah. We checked the room.

We found a naked waitress
in a coma.

Did you have anything
to do with that?

No.

No, no. I wasn't there.
I was buying an inhaler.

Inhaler?

Yes! An inhaler. An inhaler!

All right,
Mrs. Watts has asthma.

So I went to a pharmacy to get
her prescription refilled.

That's it.

So you figured

by having her car and clothes,
she wasn't going anywhere?

That's correct. Yeah.

And you kept the gun
so she wouldn't shoot herself?

That's right.

Why would she want to do that?

Excuse me?

Why would she want to do that?

Well, her husband
was beating her up

because she wanted to leave him.

The American ambassador
beats his wife?

Yes, that's right.
That's right.

Yes, and she has the face
to prove it.

You see,

I'm kind of a mystery buff
myself.

And you know what kind
of mystery this is?

A kidnapping.
Oh, come on.

Ambassador's wife
held for ransom.

Everything was going fine

until someone reported
a stolen car.

You didn't even have time
to send the ransom note.

Or did you?
No, no.

No, look, what are
you talking about?

What are you talking about?
No. I am no kidnapper, sir.

Why don't we take a ride
down to the residence

and see what the ambassador
has to say about that?

I think this is a terrible
misunderstanding.

I spoke with Mrs. Watts.

She explained to me how she let
Mr. Bardo use her car.

I don't know who reported it
stolen, because it wasn't.

My attorney, Mrs. Phillips,
has indicated to me

that no crime
has been committed.

So I'm a little confused

as to what we're
doing here, inspector.

You spoke to your wife yourself?

Yes, I did.

Could I speak with her?

Well, I don't think
that's necessary.

This has been
an awkward situation

for all of us concerned

and I really...
I don't want to prolong it.

Ah.

You know, I'm afraid
that Mrs. Phillips

will have to handle
your questions from now on.

I have an engagement.
Please excuse me.

Inspector Serra...

you've displayed a boorish lack

of sensitivity towards
the American ambassador.

We do not need or want your
investigative skills employed

to discover why Mrs. Watts

was in a hotel bedroom
this morning with Mr. Bardo.

I suggest you return to your
duties and drop this matter.

The less said about it,
the better.

I'd still like to talk
to Mrs. Watts.

And what crime
has she committed?

No crime. I just
want to see her.

Well, I'm sure we all want
to see lots of people.

But, fortunately,
in our country and in yours,

they are not compelled
to see us.

Good day, inspector.

Sir. Do you know the penalty
for having an illegal handgun?

I told you, it's not my gun.

Okay, then we'll just keep it.

Now, about your motorcycle.

You really want
to report it stolen?

Of course I want
to report it stolen!

If it wasn't at the hotel,
somebody took it.

Why don't you look
a little harder?

If it doesn't turn up
in a few days, give me a call.

Sir.

You don't believe one goddamned
thing I said, right?

Not only don't I believe you,
I don't even like you.

Look, Bardo, I know who you are.

Ex-paparazzi smart-ass

who hasn't worked
for seven years.

I don't know what you're up to,
but it's not smart.

But if you keep it up, you're
going to wind up in a cellblock

full of smart guys
just like you.

"Mr. Watts, if you ever
want to see your wife again,

"bring 10 million dollars
in bearer bonds

"to the Passerelle Debilly

"at 2 a.m. this morning.

"If you inform the police

"or arrive with anyone
besides yourself...

she will be killed."

Oh, shit!

Son of a bitch!

Mrs. Watts.

Call me Lily.

Okay, Lily.

What the hell do you think
you're doing, Lily?

Are you mad at me?

Mad? Nah.

You are making everybody
think I've kidnapped you.

Haven't you?

That is not funny.

No, Nicolas.
You're right, it's not funny.

It wasn't funny
when you sold my picture

to the papers, either.

And then you showed up
to do what?

Explain? Apologize? Lie?

I was afraid for your life.

I felt responsible
for it, damn it!

That's so sweet, Nicolas.

I'm a bad girl, Nicolas.

Real bad.

Rotten to the heart.

Last scrape I was in,
I fucked up a lot of people.

Bad people, people like me.
People that don't forget.

But I was given a second chance.

So I went back to the States,

where I got everything
a bad girl ever wanted.

Fucking Watts.

He was actually
kind of a sweet guy

until being the richest man
in the world wasn't enough.

He had to have public glory.

So he gave away a ton of money,

bought himself
the French ambassadorship,

which, of course,
meant the little missis

got dragged out
in the Parisian limelight.

Well, I couldn't
do that, Nicolas,

because bad people
read newspapers too.

Et voilà.

Enter my worst nightmare.

You snap that fucking picture,
sell it to the tabloids

and now it's only
a matter of time

before those bad people
come running.

So I got the photographer
turned blackmailer to kidnap me.

Blackmailer?
You offered me money!

And I have never kidnapped
anybody, you fucking bitch!

Then where am I, Nicolas?

Why did you have my car,
my clothes, a gun?

Why was a ransom note
e-mailed from your computer?

Everyone knows you did it.

I've got to think.
I've got to think.

What?
I've got to think. I've...

Don't bother. You don't have
to think about anything.

You.

I've got it all
thought out for you.

Watts is coming up here
at 2 a.m.

with $10 million in a briefcase.

Now, if you start being
a little nice to me

I might cut you in on the take.

We are going to the police.

Why would you want to do that?

Oh, yes. Because you
are going to tell them

the crazy story
you just told me. Come on!

Nicolas. What, do you
think I'm stupid?

I'm not going
to tell them that story.

I'm going to tell them
the kidnapping story,

starring you.

Son of a bitch!
Nicolas.

Hold on, hold on.

See, I did have time
to go back to that sex shop.

Oh, shit.

Come on.

What did you do with that
other gun I gave you, huh?

The cops took it.
They took it?

Yes, they did.

I got you another one.
Come here.

Be careful with that thing.
It's all right.

Nicolas. Isn't sugar
better than vinegar?

Come on.

We have a couple hours, baby.

Let's go do something fun,
you want to?

Hey. How come you're
the only man in this room

that doesn't want to fuck me?

What? Nicolas,
where are you going?

I'm just going
to buy some cigarettes.

Don't worry, I'm not
going anywhere

while you have my balls
in your pocket, Lily.

Pack of cigarettes.
Anything American.

Hi.

What's your name?

Hey, Nicolas. Come here.

Meet my friend Napoleon.

Oh, yeah.

I think he's in love.

Listen, can we just
go outside for a second?

I need to talk to you.

Nicolas, come on!
We're having fun. Just be cool.

I'm going to go outside.
No! Nicolas.

We don't want you to wait out
in the cold. Do we, Napoleon?

I mean, if we hit it off...

I don't know,
I was kind of thinking

of letting you off the hook.

Really?
Yeah.

I mean, you don't seem to be
enjoying my company much.

Maybe Napoleon and I
should sail off into the sunset

and you can go fuck yourself.

Whoo!

I hope you didn't kill him.

He was going to save me
from a dip in the Seine.

What?

We had big plans.

I was going to go off
the bridge into his boat.

Big plans. Oh, poor Lily,
whatever happened to her?

She must have drowned
and washed out to sea.

Thanks a lot.
You've ruined everything.

Fuck you.

What's the matter, Nicolas?

Don't I make you jealous?

Jealous? Yes. Yes.

I was jealous. I am jealous.

Nicolas, you don't
have to lick my ass.

Just fuck me.

You know what?
What?

We can still go away.

Both of us, together.

That's so sweet.

Come here. Come here.

That's so romantic.

But without the money?

Huh?

Are you nuts?

Yeah. That's a choice.

A bad choice.

There are other ones.

What, like doing
the right thing?

That's a start.

I tried that once, Nicolas.

And you know what it got me?

Huh?

A lifetime of looking
over my shoulder.

You know why no good deed
goes unpunished?

Because this world is hell,

and you're nothing
but a fucking patsy.

I made everybody think
you kidnapped me

so I could screw my husband
out of 10 million bucks.

That's what it's all about.

Me disappearing
with 10 million bucks.

So, uh, wipe it off...

and let's go get it.

Fuck you.

You're not going
to hurt her, right?

Because I've done exactly
what you've told me to do.

I brought the money

and I haven't talked to anyone.

Don't
do anything foolish, darling.

I won't.

He just wants me to take the
money and bring it back to him.

Okay!

Mr. Watts, it's Nicolas Bardo.

Your wife is staging
this kidnapping

to take you for $10 million.

If you don't believe me,
I got it right here on tape.

What the fuck do you
think you're doing?

You killed him.

I was just being careful.

That fucking bitch!

You didn't think
I'd give you a gun

loaded with real bullets,
did you?

Baby...

there's one more thing
we got to do.

Oh, God! Somebody, help!
My husband.

Fucking over everyone again?

Hm?

But not this time.

Where... are... the diamonds?

Fuck you!

Wake up, bitch!

Before you die!

You know what's in this?

Huh?

The bullet that's going
to spread your brains

all over that wall.

You know how I know? Look at me.

I'm your fucking fairy godmother

and I just dreamt your future.

And mine too.

And all I know is

if there's a snowball's
chance in hell

of any of that shit happening,

we're going to change it
right here.

Now, listen.

I know you got a bad break,
but that's history,

and you better
fucking forget it.

Because if you can't,

then you may as well go ahead
and pull the trigger.

But if you don't end it here,

and you get your ass on
that plane to America,

your future will be sitting
right next to you.

His name is Bruce,
and he's a really good guy.

And he's going to look
into your eyes,

and he's going to fall in love.

And after that,
you're on your own.

So, what do you say?

Do I pull the trigger?

Or do you get your ass
on that plane

and have a wonderful life?

How do I know
that you tell the truth?

How do I know there's a bullet
in the chamber?

Hola? El señor no esta
en las... En la casa en estos momentos.

What are you doing,
dodging bill collectors?

No intiendo.

Nick, asshole, it's Johnny.

I know who you are.
What are you doing?

I'm just trying to catch
a little lightning in a bottle.

You eating?
Barely.

How would you like
to make some real money?

What are you selling, John?

You know who
Bruce Hewitt Watts is?

The new American ambassador?
Bingo.

Guess what? He's got
this wife and three kids,

but no one seems to have
a picture of them.

Well, maybe they're camera-shy.

There are some people that like
to keep their home life private.

I know that it's weird,
but they do.

What's happened to you?

You find fucking God
or something?

You owe me, pal.

Then I guess I'm going to
have to keep on owing you.

That's your half. There it is.
A little under 4 million.

Four?

That's the best I could do.

I had to fence them off
one at a time.

Sorry that it took so long,
but it was the safest way.

Not bad for a night's work, huh?

You call that work?

Bye, Laure. It's best
we don't see each other again.

Excuse me, lady.
Are you all right?

It was an accident,
it was terr...

Sorry.

I'm just a little shook-up.

Actually, you look
like you need a drink.

Drink?

Yes, come on.

I'm sorry...

You look so familiar.

Haven't we met
before, somewhere?

Only in my dreams.