Baron noir (2016–…): Season 2, Episode 7 - Diprotodon - full transcript
Philippe trounces the National Front leader during a primetime televised debate, suggesting a referendum on diversity in school. In the meantime, Thorigny schemes with a few center-left and center-right executives, aiming to create a political movement that will challenge Amélie in the next presidential election. Against the backdrop of rapid political reforms, Philippe needs rally Kalhenberg to his cause in time.
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That's precisely the context of
my question, Mr Chalon,
let me ask you again.
Do you have an issue
with blacks and Arabs?
Do you have an issue?
You're something else, sir.
Do you have an issue?
I'm a loyal patriot, Mr Rickwaert.
Do you have an issue?
You're in-in-incredible!
Do you have an issue?
I'm not a racist.
It's a problem for you.
All we need now
are 2,000,000 citizen signatures
so that the French people
can decide by referendum vote
-Referendum?
-Yes, by referendum.
There's no need for
government negotiations
All you need are
2,000,000 signatures, Mr Chalon
Barcelona managed a stunning
comeback against Paris Saint Germain
If they managed to do it in football,
why can't we do it
to re-establish
our party's foundation?
Do you have an issue
with blacks and Arabs?
Mr Rickwaert's new address is 6,
Blanc des Flandres, is that correct?
That's correct.
Have you had an opportunity to review
PR Conseil 's balance sheet?
I see that most of Mr Rickwaert's
client list consists of
elected officials in
the northern district.
But the main reason my client
wants to move back to his home town
is to be close to his daughter.
My daughter is my first priority,
My Lady.
What are you proposing?
My client has always been willing to
comply with court orders and
since his release from prison,
he's strictly adhered to
all of his parole conditions.
Mr Rickwaert is fully willing
to check in weekly
With Dunkirk authorities.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves...
I'm prepared to consider alternatives
to prison, but within reason.
For now, I suggest we start with
electronic surveillance.
-The bracelet that beeps all night?
-Please, Philippe!
So as not to interfere with
your professional life,
I'll limit electronic tracking
to between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Dunkirk police will be expecting you
tomorrow, to attach your bracelet.
With Couriège,
we're off to a good start!
Yes, I invited him to lunch
to wrap things up.
He eats a lot, but he enjoys it!
What's our total now?
We're halfway there.
If we count the senators,
we have about 50 signatures.
Shit!
-Pierre Naville
-Weren't you planning on seeing him?
Why don't we try our luck?
Let's go.
Pierre, how are things?
I recently
came across your article on
the harmonisation of
public education.
It's an extraordinary piece.
What are you talking about?
I'm referring to
the op-ed you wrote in March of '83.
It was a very impressive discourse.
Those were different times.
We carry on
that same battle today, Pierre.
You'll see, we'll soon consider
the defeat in '84 as
a decisive factor
in enabling our win 30 years later.
Let's get together to discuss this.
Speak to Arnaud.
Goodbye, Pierre.
We're going to hold Amélie
to her promise on article 71.
We'll have to fight to get
the most signatures possible.
We're going to win-this referendum!
Hang on a second.
It's Séverine Méliane from
Le Figaro news,
she keeps calling me,
she wants to spend a day here...
-What's her story angle?
-"Inside our Educational System,"
it's a story on who we are,
how we operate...
She wants to
focus on our online presence and
You have to admit,
it's all very impressive.
Half the article will be
about the video.
Our video is fantastic.
Really? People tell me all the time
how funny it is,
but you don't win a referendum
-with "Likes" on YouTube.
-I guess not...
We did it, top tweet of the day!
Now that's great news!
Our hashtag, #RepublicEducation,
is the most popular Twitter topic
In France.
Give yourselves a hand,
this is brilliant!
Are you supporting Cyril's position?
What? No, I'm just good at trolling.
Trolling?
Yeah, I'm an expert!
I go on sites from the right,
and write up bullshit stories.
For example, I claim that De Gaulle
was against private education.
-You can't be serious!
-It doesn't matter,
as long as people react to it,
they comment, re-tweet
and it boosts the number of
hits on our hashtag, fantastic!
Our Right Honourable Prime Minister.
REPORT ON
STUDENT COEDUCATION IN SCHOOLS
I just had a long discussion with
Mr Delécluze,
former inspector general in education
and Mrs Champaigne,
representing university professors.
They were tasked with examining
dualities within our school system.
Their conclusions will help guide
our government educational policies
to ensure we consider
children's needs first. Thank you.
For photos, please step forward.
Véro?
I'm with Cyril, you're on speaker.
-Bad news, we've lost eight votes.
-What?
Our position contradicts
one of the report findings.
They're refuting our proposal
for coeducation.
Thorigny is a weasel, he's trying to
throw us off, that bastard!
There's only one way to
win deputies over,
we have to hit them where it hurts
and go after their voters.
We have to show a sharp rise
in petition support numbers.
If we can get
over 1,000,000 signatures,
The left and Vidal's supporters
will crack under pressure.
-Any ideas?
-We'll target the working-class
where people really understand
what "ghetto" means.
Each team will sell promotional
materials, "Republic student" hats,
t-shirts, badges, stickers.
We'll post videos on our website
of our team in action
and invite volunteers to sign up!
We need to build momentum,
maybe host some events, a concert...
There aren't many good concerts
these days
but there's nothing like music
to bring people together.
But where do we find money
to fund all this?
We'll use the money from
the sale of promotional materials,
it won't be much but it'll be enough
to fund our initiatives.
We'll get a loan to tide us over,
it's called an investment.
Hello?
I guess you could call it
an investment if you like but...
It could also be perceived as
an indicator that this is a big con.
We're talking about incurring debt
and cash paybacks on loans.
Philippe, you've just recently
been found guilty.
Your every move is being scrutinised,
you're on parole and
we'd still be hard pressed to find
a bank willing to give us a loan.
I'm sorry, this, isn't going to work,
not since the OHL incident.
Right...
I see, so I'm the problem.
I'm the one who brought down Chalon,
but somehow I'm the problem,
is that it? Great!
How is that for a stab in the back?
All right, fine. We'll hang tight
and wait this one out.
Cyril is going back to
the Assembly tomorrow.
Don't worry, we'll win them back,
one by one.
I'll take Vidal out for lunch,
I'll make sure
-he signs the petition, okay?
-All right.
Shit!
-How was the prime minister?
-About as friendly as a prison door.
Did he say anything?
He stayed 10 minutes.
He's so stubborn, this has been
going on now for three weeks!
I think you need to
turn on the charm.
What more does he want?
He wanted an investigation into
the Balsan proposition
to demonstrate it's not feasible,
I agreed.
He insisted on selecting
the investigators, I agreed.
The problem is Rickwaert.
But I'm clearly Philippe's target,
everyone knows that!
There'll never be a referendum,
they'll never persuade 100 deputies
or 2.000,000 people
to support their petition
There's no contradiction there.
No, Thorigny wants to see me fail
by forcing me to recant on
a campaign promise.
I'm not so sure about that.
What does he want then?
Forgive my language. but he wants
to prove he's still got some balls.
I realise submission is part of
a prime minister's role,
but you're a woman.
How very astute of you, Martin.
When these seemingly
small ego afflictions fester,
They can lead to
serious catastrophes.
I have better things to do.
Amélie, I swear, my advice to you
would be the same if you were a man.
Get him back on your side, invite him
over for lunch on Saturday.
If I were a man,
you would not speak to me this way
and Thorigny would certainly not
behave like such a prat.
I can play that game.
I'm going to behave just like a man,
I don't have to do anything at all.
Let him swallow his alpha male pride.
LIVING ROOM
SOCIALIST PARTY
Philippe's a sensitive man,
In fact, that's part of his charm.
But he's incapable of recognising
when it's time to move on.
As my son would say,
"He's old school."
He's nostalgic,
you might call him, melancholic.
In poetry and music,
these are positive attributes
but in politics...
All great men in history
who got lost and left behind
failed to recognise that times
were changing.
Al the Élysée, Dorendeu projects
the illusion, of continuity
but what is really behind
her pretty façade?
She's destroying old traditions,
crushing old customs and parties.
Can you imagine all of the programmes
at risk in unifying the left?
We have our centrists, as passionate
as ever about their independence...
Social-democrats who have always
embraced reality...
We also have
militants from the right,
often liberal,
sometimes with Gaullist tendencies,
but always supporting
a democratic Republic.
Let's all work together
towards creating a new world.
Let's learn from one another
by sharing our different experiences
and stories
while cherishing our convictions.
They are
our source of motivation and honour.
These are the values that, in part,
define us.
And let's, once and for all,
converge all these values together.
And Dorendeu is free to execute
her plan.
Without an agreement with Chalon,
the right has no where else to turn,
and Thorigny won't have
any opposition to his liberal agenda.
Isn't that right?
If you say so, I don't know,
that's all very theoretical.
I like to think in concrete terms,
let me ask you this, Michel,
why don't you sign the petition
for the referendum on education?
-Because it won't change anything.
-But it's for the children, damn it!
And if you lose the referendum?
Do we just pack up our bags,
as we did in '84, and that's it?
Are we going to risk the future
of our educational system
on a referendum? I can't accept that.
The best way to introduce coeducation
in schools, is to have me elected
and to implement my programme.
Laurent?
Rickwaert's school proposal doesn't
seem very constructive.
Rickwaert won't let it go
but it's doomed to fail.
You don't know the man.
-I do...
-Well, tell him.
He's crazy, the man knows no limits.
That's good because neither do I.
I know a man who once got into
a pissing match with Rickwaert,
his name was Francis Laugier.
And so?
We don't do anything because
the man's a media circus animal
with a long criminal record?
Rickwaert is playing his cards,
who can blame him?
He's showing courage
and so should we.
There's no gain without risk.
Let's all take a risk.
Of course, you want us
to take a risk, it's to your benefit.
You'll be the party leader and
the next presidential candidate,
right?
Who would you prefer then? Amélie?
She's in the role, she's proven
she's capable of state leadership.
But a strong agenda should always
take precedence over individuals.
And who is the best person.
To bridge differences between
Laurent at one end and
Francois at the other?
That would be me,
of course.
I'm not holding a gun to your head
on this.
I'm not paying you off
to get you on my side.
I'm not asking you to compromise
your convictions.
You are free to choose your path but
I'm moving to begin a new chapter.
However long it takes,
I know that we will come together
to fight against the extreme politics
that are threatening our country.
-Hi, Salomé.
-I'm here, Dad.
Where are you exactly?
I'm on the beach.
-I can see you, I'm up here.
-I don't see you...
You're quiet.
I have a thousand questions,
but I'm sure
you have things you want to say.
-Why don't you tell me about you?
-I guess...
-A referendum?
-No, I'd rather not discuss politics.
You know,
If I get started on politics,
I'll get all wound up and
I won't listen,
-and I really need to listen to you.
-All right.
You look well.
Although I said that before
when in fact...
I'm fine
I'm better now. I still take
a few pills but a lot less.
I've even agreed to see
my rotten father.
Now that the referendum is
dead, thanks to our report,
the educational reform movement
will finally come to an end.
This should serve to
calm Balsan down.
Now, let's just hope
your prime minister stops sulking.
It's just childish behaviour,
nothin more.
I no longer have the pressure of
a referendum hanging over my head
and I won't have to recant
on my campaign promise.
He's not a threat any more.
I can't argue with that.
Thank you, yes.
You all right?
What about our plans for
a weekend together on the 15th?
Yes, we can leave on Friday.
We can visit Maeght in the morning,
our guest house isn't far.
-And my brother lives around there.
-I met with Vidal.
Vidal?
Your family? I trust you
just as you trust me.
I want to share
what's important in my life with you.
Very well, and... Is he interested
in supporting the referendum?
The referendum has suffered
a significant blow,
no, he's interested in me.
What did he have to offer?
Prime candidate for Hauts-de-France
In the European election.
For Vidal, the European elections
are just a stepping stone,
his real target is Lille.
He wants you to become mayor
of Lille?
That's right, at first
I had the same reaction.
He told me about the Indignados.
They won in Barcelona, they're doing
all kinds of interesting things.
Vidal is right to consider a win
in Lille,
especially with you.
Don't worry, I turned him down.
You don't sound convinced.
You know me,
I'd never leave my party.
But come to think of it,
what's going on with my party?
We have a great first secretary,
at least, in my opinion.
But between Thorigny and Vidal,
the old guard seems antiquated.
So, besides visiting Maeght
and meeting your family,
which will be fantastic,
what does our future look like,
Daniel?
Yes, I can hear you now.
We lost four more senators,
that's significant.
Are your activists
still in good spirits?
Yeah, although they don't seem to
laugh as hard at Toph's jokes.
Is he still busy trolling?
Yes, this morning he targeted
Champaigne's Facebook page.
-Really
-Just the usual, personal attacks
criticising her past, her family,
her car, stupid photos of her...
-Toph is right.
-I'm sorry?
Listen, I think I have an idea,
let me call you back.
Add friend
Bastien, do you still work
in the mayor's office?
I don't think that'll work.
What about Delphine?
Great! Do you think I can call her?
I can't really tell you much,
right now
but to give you an idea,
I have names of children here
and I'd like to know
if they attend public schools or not.
I know it's sensitive.
SIGN-UP
It's free
Create an account
Add friend
Invitation sent
Fabienne Champaigne
has accepted your invitation
Catholic Sports and
Education Federation
APEL
A taste of freedom
Parents of Students Association
for Open Education
Project Leader
Special Education Needs
Mr Carthaud!
Please, sir.
Sir, can you explain the tweet
you put out this monning?
I simply asked,
"How many committee members
"have children
attending private schools?"
It's a legitimate question, isn't it?
It's important to ensure this study
is unbiased. You wouldn't ask
a Monsanto employee to write
a report on pesticides, right?
Mr Carthaud!
Do more digging on Monsanto, Pascal,
that was brilliant, stay on it!
A study like this has to be impartial
and objective,
but in this case,
clearly there are many people
with vested interests involved.
Mrs Champaigne, a study spokesperson,
is also a member of
the diocese committee, APEL,
one of the key organisations
supporting private education.
The bishop of Paris
names diocese committee members.
He chose Mrs Champaigne.
When she signs off on the report
is she serving the needs of
the prime minister, or the bishop?
The Debate on Private Education
Rages On
Don't worry, even if you are on
a prime time news show,
You don't need to change anything.
Just be yourself!
Don't you believe in
Mrs Champaigne's project proposal?
Let's not be naive,
there'll always be inequalities
between schools and students.
Did you hear the story about
the principal of an Alsatian school?
He made a joke about some
parent-teacher meetings
resembling
government council sessions.
That's so typical!
He had no idea his words
would make people so angry.
Don't you think
this vendetta against Mrs Champaigne
will become counter-productive
and harm your cause?
I personally have nothing against
Mrs Champaigne. The question is,
should the state be funding
social inequalities
or should state funding be redirected
to promote diversity programmes?
I ask you and I ask Mrs Champaigne
the same question.
Carthaud's managing quite well,
don't you think?
Call Philippe to tell him,
he'll be pleased.
Initially, he wanted me to do it.
Why did you refuse?
I told him it would complicate
things for me at the Assembly.
His politics are nothing but
cheap populism.
Do you believe diversity will come
by threatening people? Seriously?
What "people?"
Their report is a scam.
It's the same thing, Fanny!
We make it personal, we attack,
we openly accuse others
and pit people against each other.
Have you looked up "Champaigne"?
No.
It's like a public lynching.
It's sickening.
Years from now,
when her grandchildren go onto
the Web, they'll see horrible things.
Of course I called her, poor thing,
she thought she was giving
an expert opinion on a report
and she ends up with TV reporters
on her doorstep day and night.
Champaigne is a simple woman,
her name's being dragged through
the mud, it's hell for her children.
Politics is a war of words.
When you bring bishops,
and congregations into a debate
on state education, it's troubling.
It's ridiculous.
She was only on that committee one
year, and that was five years ago.
The Champaigne family
lives in Raincy,
the golden enclave
at the heart of Seine-Saint-Denis.
None of the students from the school
there, Gagarine, are from Raincy.
L'Obs is going to publish a report
on segregation in that district
And I'm afraid it may not stop there.
Rightly or wrongly, this woman is
becoming an icon
representing school ghettoisation.
Where are you going with this?
The referendum has the wind
in its sails.
If we stop the controversy,
we quash their campaign.
-What do we have to concede?
-Nothing, we kill it.
We instruct the Education Commission
to reject the report.
You want to bury the report?
But that won't solve anything.
-If you kill the report, I'll resign.
-What are you saying?
Rickwaert will never get 4.5 million
signatures or win over 185 deputies.
No, but he may reach the conditions
I set out in my programme,
2,000,000 citizens and 100 deputies.
Is there a law to support that?
No, so there won't be any referendum.
You plan on resigning
after only three months?
It's not a question of time,
it's a question of principle.
There's a symposium on Saturday
at the Sorbonne
to mark the anniversary
of the Constitutional Council.
They asked me to give a key note
speech but I think you should go.
It will be a good opportunity for you
to set the record straight on our
plans for constitutional reform and
to publicly state you have no
intent to change referendum rules.
I'm sorry. Unfortunately,
I have other plans on Saturday.
Did you hear the story of
the principal at an Alsatian school?
He made a joke about some
parent-teacher meetings
resembling
government council sessions.
That's so typical! He had no idea...
-May I?
-Yes, of course.
This stupid video
launches automatically!
My son listened to it
so much over the weekend,
he knows it by heart,
I can't stand it!
Michel, we have to stop them.
They've gone too far.
Stop them? They're defending
our cause and using our slogans.
We have other means of attack.
Have you listened to their message?
They're insinuating that
district kids are immigrants,
-there's a colonialist undertone...
-They are not racists.
-I wouldn't say they're racists,
-No, I said, "colonialist."
Well, I don't want to. risk my future
by insulting anyone.
Anyway, Kalhenberg will not lose
any deputies to them,
Dorendeu is sure to step in and
the socialists will crush them.
And then they'll join our party?
Is that it?
Just like Véronique Bosso?
You said that?
I should've let her walk all over me?
Threatening to resign is effective
until the time comes,
when you actually have to do it.
I know what I'm talking about.
You deliver your little tirade
and next thing you know,
the president accepts
your resignation.
Afterwards, you realise this was
the biggest mistake in your life.
The next morning, you go out to
buy a newspaper like some sorry loser
and that's it, you're left
with absolutely nothing to do.
I sat down and watched a kids' show,
Candy, with my daughter.
I struggled to hold my tears back.
I think I frightened her,
she won't reject the report.
You don't know her.
She'll never give in to threats,
-she's going to let you go.
-Nonsense.
She'd lose her majority. There's
no way she'd call an election now.
It's not her fault you're resigning.
She'd just shift further to the left,
you'd leave with strong
private sector support.
Her popularity has increased
since appointing you.
You're both held in high regard.
It's all going to hinge on
how people perceive your resignation.
Is it an act of courage
to defend your values?
Or a defection, as a consequence
of political ambition?
-What do you think?
-It sounds fishy.
Don't be so rash.
Many will think you're leaving
to avoid a clash with protestors.
Or they'll think you can't handle
the pressures of the job.
This is off to a bad start.
Fine, I get the picture.
Force her hand.
Always start with
the worst possible scenario,
assuming she accepts
your resignation.
Laurent is right,
everything hinges on
how people perceive your resignation,
Who'll be held responsible?
You or her?
That's the crux of the matter, but...
Let's imagine you make
a swift and bold political move
Before she rejects the report, then
she has no choice but to accept it.
That changes everything.
They'll say she fired me
as a result of my political move
and she'll be held
responsible for all the chaos.
But how can you set that up?
It should involve the Church somehow,
make her look like some kind of
bitter sectarian political schemer.
Let's work together, the three of us.
Let's face the extremists together,
be the voice of reason.
The moderates against the left,
who want a war on education,
and against the right,
who are busy twiddling their thumbs.
We have to move fast, we can't
organise a meeting in three days!
People will suspect
we're up to something.
Why don't we start with a news op-ed?
I tried that before with the 49.3
article, she couldn't care less.
An op-ed is so old-fashioned.
What are you doing on Saturday?
This is a meeting the prime minister,
who traditionally always attends.
Every year, walking with supporters,
he makes his way through
the heart of his district, Souleuvre.
This procession is in memory of
seven fallen Resistance fighters.
But the surprise, this morning
was to see the prime minister
accompanied by the Assembly
Socialist President, Laurent Mirmont
and Francois Boudard, former home
secretary for Jean-Marc Auzanet
The three men
seemed particularly happy
to be participating together
in today's event.
Arseholes...
-Yes, Toph?
-Wow!
These baklavas are amazing.
Good! I'll be there in 25 minutes.
Is Cyril still sulking?
I'm not sure, I'm facing his back.
That bastard never called me back.
Stéphane Thorigny and
his group are making their way...
Hang on, I have to go!
Two surprises guests:
Republican François Boudard
and Socialist Laurent Mirmont
Although we're still waiting for
the three men's press briefing
there are rumours they may announce
a new "Reformers' Association,"
a forum to facilitate dialogue
between the left and right
Calling for a "third force"
uniting two thirds
of the French people
may be an old idea,
Stéphane Thorigny's appointment
in Matignon by the President
is said to have highlighted...
We are facing tremendous challenges,
globalisation, Europe, clean energy.
We need to stand united.
Let me emphatically say to
members supporting the left
who have spent the last few weeks
engaging in deceptive practices
to start a war in education
with inquisitive methods.
We've had enough criticism and
finger pointing.
And I strongly implore members
supporting the right
who may bé persuaded by incentives
to shift their position,
Stop!
Stop before things get out of hand!
My dear citizens,
let's end artificial partisan
divisions and focus on new...
I've heard enough.
Is the symposium
at the Sorbonne, today?
Yes, the last session
will be at 6:00 p.m.
Tell the organisers
we're inviting ourselves.
I want to deliver my speech
on institutional reform to cover
limitations on
the number of terms In office.
elimination of article 49.3,
except for finances, and...
It's in three hours,
we don't have a speech.
-We'll work on it in the car.
-What about the referendum?
Let's be consistent, they need 10% of
voter support and 285 deputies.
But Thorigny's message was clear,
we'll be contradicting him.
I'm well aware of that, Martin.
Call him out! He's out of line!
Call who out? My prime minister
with whom we signed an agreement?
The alliance was designed with
the socialists as the cornerstone
and Thorigny as the counterbalance,
you were the only possible leader of
the centrist block, but now...
Boudard has joined Thorigny and
power has now shifted to the right,
putting Thorigny
at the centre of the game.
This is going to be a long battle.
We have lots of time
before the next election,
that's when we need to be ready.
Right now, we have to stand firm,
I don't want to victimise him, it
only serves to validate his cause.
Anyone can start
a political movement,
it doesn't mean it's going to fly.
With Mirmont and Boudard by his side,
I wish our prime minister luck.
Stéphane Thorigny called for unity
with his usual temperance...
We used to abide by a code of honour.
We still pulled some punches but
at least we respected the rules.
We didn't jump from one camp
to the other, like Mirmont...
Who cares about Mirmont?
The question here is Amélie.
I just spoke to her.
She said now's the worst time
for the dissolution of parliament and
that we shouldn't lift a finger.
You're not going to do anything?
She's president.
If she goes down, we all go down.
She's the only one responsible
for all this!
In forming an alliance with Thorigny
she gave him a leg up and
now he's unstoppable, he'll push
to defeat us, just like Vidal.
If Thorigny gains control
over Amélie, it's possible,
but if not, she'll define
his boundaries.
She's not interested in a liberal
approach, it's "progressivism."
Do you know
what "progressivism" means?
Well, it's centre-left,
but it's still left.
Is this just a battle
between two different personalities?
It's the Fifth Republic...
Either Amélie wins against Thorigny
and we end up on the centre-left
or she loses, and we end up
on the centre-right.
Either way,
what happens to the Socialist Party?
What if I issue a press release?
But what would you say?
I'd have Mirmont excluded.
Daniel, not Mirmont again!
He's shitting all over the party.
We've gone too long without
discipline, that's enough!
The Socialist Party is dying,
forget about standards and sanctions.
Be a real politician, damn it!
You're the head of the party,
only you can prevent our demise!
-Support the Republic's children.
-I can't possibly do that!
All we need are 30 deputies and
100 government members on our side.
You can make that happen
In no time at all,
then we'll easily obtain the
2,000,000 signatures we need.
And Amélie will invoke article 11
to call the referendum.
Actually, we need 285
deputies and 4.6 million signatures.
She'll never back down on
a campaign promise,
she's staked her reputation on it.
In two hours,
she'll be at the Sorbonne
attending the Constitutional Council.
She'll confirm she has no intention
of amending referendum procedures,
it's over, Philippe
We have to act now!
Come to school with me.
Since the beginning of the strike,
every Saturday, there's a party.
It's like a left-wing street party
with children, parents and teachers.
We all have a laugh,
give ourselves a pat on the back
and you make the party
relevant to people again.
Then you publicly state your support
for our cause, hooray!
And Amélie backs down.
-I don't know.
-Of course, you do!
Do you want to lose all your votes
like a Greek politician?
Bring Amélie back to order
by hook or by crook,
but she can't go back on her word
at the Sorbonne.
When we get the green light
on the referendum,
Vidal will be screwed,
he'll have to support it.
And then, we're back in business,
there's a "Yes" camp on the left,
and a "No" camp on the right.
We quash the idea of having
three parties from the get-go.
No, you're not dreaming.
When you get to heaven,
you'll have a spot
between Blum and Mitterand.
-Ready to go?
-Come on...
What if she stands irm,
If she doesn't back down?
If she doesn't back down,
then she becomes a right-wing woman
and you remain a left-wing man.
Take responsibility for the rift
between the party and the Élysée.
Protect the old guard.
It's easy to start a
War of the Roses,
but what then?
How far are we willing to go?
They say that to become president,
it has to be a life-long passion.
But I don't believe that,
history decides.
You just have to be the right person
at the right time.
Notify the media.
What are you up to, here?
You can't do it?
Look, swing your line over here,
hook in the tail! Nice!
-Hello? Where are you? What?
-I'm with your boyfriend.
He's on the left just like you and I,
it's wonderful!
We're just leaving the office now.
We'll meet you at the school.
See you later.
Kalhenberg is joining Rickwaert.
I just heard it on AFP news.
Did you find it?
Yes, here it is...
No reference to it in article 61
between the '74 and 2008 revisions.
Madam President...
Kalh is joining the children's cause.
Why are you looking so glum?
Well, you know...
Smile, for God's sake!
We just hit the jackpot!
Vidal, Amélie, Mirmont and Thorigny!
This is an epic win!
Come on, Daniel!
Loosen up and enjoy, man!
Lehaïm!
It's Amélie.
Put your phone away, Daniel.
Go on, put it away!
Thank your Mum for me! All right...
Here we go, some ketchup and
mayonnaise.
You're welcome.
They'll be here shortly.
Hey, Cyril!
Yes, I understood,
Philippe is coming with Kalhenberg
and we'll get more signatures.
Do you realise what this means?
This is your district, this is where
it all started, thanks to you.
There they are.
It's Vidal.
This is no time for whining,
you have to seize this opportunity.
You put these kids in the spotlight
and united the left
and I want you to rise above
anyone who hasn't understood that.
Come. Let me introduce you.
My comrades...
-Hello?
-Vidal has just arrived.
We're almost there.
-What's going on?
-Don't worry.
Véronique, I'm so happy to see you.
Are you pleased to see me?
Very happy, Michel!
I'm proud to introduce you to
Fanny Cholet and Cyril Balsan.
Will our hero of the day honour me
with a guided tour?
It'd be my pleasure, this way.
AFP News reports that Vidal
has just arrived at the school.
Vidal is at the school.
It'll be fine Daniel, relax.
Do you know what Vidal will do with
your referendum?
This is a Judas kiss,
first chance he gets...
Give me that!
Not so fast.
Nothing has been decided, yet...
This is about the future of the left.
Vidal is like a political jihadist.
We've got a bourgeois camp on
one side and Vidal on the other,
-I'll get crushed.
-Let me tell you something, Daniel.
In Australia, 50,000 years ago,
humans faced the fiercest predator
the world had ever seen,
the Diprotodon, an animal with
three tons of muscle and a huge jaw.
All right, Philippe, enough!
At the time, humans felt
just as you do now,
they thought they'd get killed.
But in the end, they survived,
and all the Diprotodons disappeared.
Do you know why?
-I want to get back to Paris.
-It's all in the mind.
Humans set the forest on fire,
they terrorised the animals and
secured their territory.
Logical thinking saved them.
Just give me my phone.
I want to call Uber.
There's nothing Vidal enjoys more
than a good hunt.
He strategises day and night until
he finds a way to trap his prey.
But this time, he hasn't had
much time to think.
He knows that
time is working against him.
If he doesn't act fast,
he'll get screwed.
And so he's weak, vulnerable.
Today, he's the prey,
and we have to
manage the fires to trap him.
This is where our-power is.
All right, I'll go.
Break a leg, Daniel.
Aren't you coming?
I have to be in Dunkirk
in two and a half hours.
-Everything okay?
-Let me speak to Daniel.
I'm sorry, he's busy right now.
This place is packed, it's great!
How's your symposium?
This is very serious,
do you know what you're doing?
You know, Amélie,
I did have a moment of doubt
but then I thought,
what if I were living in the past?
What if they were right about
their "new world?"
As I'm standing here watching this,
I realise some things never change,
like the right and left.
But it's important to periodically
question our fundamental beliefs.
Psychologists define it
as introspection.
You should try it, revisit
your principles, your identity.
Think about whether you want to be
on the left or right, for example.
It's just that right now,
you don't have much time to think.
Your choice is simple.
Either you kill the referendum and
side with your friends on the right.
but that could be difficult,
Thorigny has already made his move.
Or, you invoke article 11 and
come back where you belong
on the left. You never should have
abandoned us in the first place.
I send you my love.
Please, move out of the way.
Don't stop, keep going.
Madam President!
---
That's precisely the context of
my question, Mr Chalon,
let me ask you again.
Do you have an issue
with blacks and Arabs?
Do you have an issue?
You're something else, sir.
Do you have an issue?
I'm a loyal patriot, Mr Rickwaert.
Do you have an issue?
You're in-in-incredible!
Do you have an issue?
I'm not a racist.
It's a problem for you.
All we need now
are 2,000,000 citizen signatures
so that the French people
can decide by referendum vote
-Referendum?
-Yes, by referendum.
There's no need for
government negotiations
All you need are
2,000,000 signatures, Mr Chalon
Barcelona managed a stunning
comeback against Paris Saint Germain
If they managed to do it in football,
why can't we do it
to re-establish
our party's foundation?
Do you have an issue
with blacks and Arabs?
Mr Rickwaert's new address is 6,
Blanc des Flandres, is that correct?
That's correct.
Have you had an opportunity to review
PR Conseil 's balance sheet?
I see that most of Mr Rickwaert's
client list consists of
elected officials in
the northern district.
But the main reason my client
wants to move back to his home town
is to be close to his daughter.
My daughter is my first priority,
My Lady.
What are you proposing?
My client has always been willing to
comply with court orders and
since his release from prison,
he's strictly adhered to
all of his parole conditions.
Mr Rickwaert is fully willing
to check in weekly
With Dunkirk authorities.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves...
I'm prepared to consider alternatives
to prison, but within reason.
For now, I suggest we start with
electronic surveillance.
-The bracelet that beeps all night?
-Please, Philippe!
So as not to interfere with
your professional life,
I'll limit electronic tracking
to between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Dunkirk police will be expecting you
tomorrow, to attach your bracelet.
With Couriège,
we're off to a good start!
Yes, I invited him to lunch
to wrap things up.
He eats a lot, but he enjoys it!
What's our total now?
We're halfway there.
If we count the senators,
we have about 50 signatures.
Shit!
-Pierre Naville
-Weren't you planning on seeing him?
Why don't we try our luck?
Let's go.
Pierre, how are things?
I recently
came across your article on
the harmonisation of
public education.
It's an extraordinary piece.
What are you talking about?
I'm referring to
the op-ed you wrote in March of '83.
It was a very impressive discourse.
Those were different times.
We carry on
that same battle today, Pierre.
You'll see, we'll soon consider
the defeat in '84 as
a decisive factor
in enabling our win 30 years later.
Let's get together to discuss this.
Speak to Arnaud.
Goodbye, Pierre.
We're going to hold Amélie
to her promise on article 71.
We'll have to fight to get
the most signatures possible.
We're going to win-this referendum!
Hang on a second.
It's Séverine Méliane from
Le Figaro news,
she keeps calling me,
she wants to spend a day here...
-What's her story angle?
-"Inside our Educational System,"
it's a story on who we are,
how we operate...
She wants to
focus on our online presence and
You have to admit,
it's all very impressive.
Half the article will be
about the video.
Our video is fantastic.
Really? People tell me all the time
how funny it is,
but you don't win a referendum
-with "Likes" on YouTube.
-I guess not...
We did it, top tweet of the day!
Now that's great news!
Our hashtag, #RepublicEducation,
is the most popular Twitter topic
In France.
Give yourselves a hand,
this is brilliant!
Are you supporting Cyril's position?
What? No, I'm just good at trolling.
Trolling?
Yeah, I'm an expert!
I go on sites from the right,
and write up bullshit stories.
For example, I claim that De Gaulle
was against private education.
-You can't be serious!
-It doesn't matter,
as long as people react to it,
they comment, re-tweet
and it boosts the number of
hits on our hashtag, fantastic!
Our Right Honourable Prime Minister.
REPORT ON
STUDENT COEDUCATION IN SCHOOLS
I just had a long discussion with
Mr Delécluze,
former inspector general in education
and Mrs Champaigne,
representing university professors.
They were tasked with examining
dualities within our school system.
Their conclusions will help guide
our government educational policies
to ensure we consider
children's needs first. Thank you.
For photos, please step forward.
Véro?
I'm with Cyril, you're on speaker.
-Bad news, we've lost eight votes.
-What?
Our position contradicts
one of the report findings.
They're refuting our proposal
for coeducation.
Thorigny is a weasel, he's trying to
throw us off, that bastard!
There's only one way to
win deputies over,
we have to hit them where it hurts
and go after their voters.
We have to show a sharp rise
in petition support numbers.
If we can get
over 1,000,000 signatures,
The left and Vidal's supporters
will crack under pressure.
-Any ideas?
-We'll target the working-class
where people really understand
what "ghetto" means.
Each team will sell promotional
materials, "Republic student" hats,
t-shirts, badges, stickers.
We'll post videos on our website
of our team in action
and invite volunteers to sign up!
We need to build momentum,
maybe host some events, a concert...
There aren't many good concerts
these days
but there's nothing like music
to bring people together.
But where do we find money
to fund all this?
We'll use the money from
the sale of promotional materials,
it won't be much but it'll be enough
to fund our initiatives.
We'll get a loan to tide us over,
it's called an investment.
Hello?
I guess you could call it
an investment if you like but...
It could also be perceived as
an indicator that this is a big con.
We're talking about incurring debt
and cash paybacks on loans.
Philippe, you've just recently
been found guilty.
Your every move is being scrutinised,
you're on parole and
we'd still be hard pressed to find
a bank willing to give us a loan.
I'm sorry, this, isn't going to work,
not since the OHL incident.
Right...
I see, so I'm the problem.
I'm the one who brought down Chalon,
but somehow I'm the problem,
is that it? Great!
How is that for a stab in the back?
All right, fine. We'll hang tight
and wait this one out.
Cyril is going back to
the Assembly tomorrow.
Don't worry, we'll win them back,
one by one.
I'll take Vidal out for lunch,
I'll make sure
-he signs the petition, okay?
-All right.
Shit!
-How was the prime minister?
-About as friendly as a prison door.
Did he say anything?
He stayed 10 minutes.
He's so stubborn, this has been
going on now for three weeks!
I think you need to
turn on the charm.
What more does he want?
He wanted an investigation into
the Balsan proposition
to demonstrate it's not feasible,
I agreed.
He insisted on selecting
the investigators, I agreed.
The problem is Rickwaert.
But I'm clearly Philippe's target,
everyone knows that!
There'll never be a referendum,
they'll never persuade 100 deputies
or 2.000,000 people
to support their petition
There's no contradiction there.
No, Thorigny wants to see me fail
by forcing me to recant on
a campaign promise.
I'm not so sure about that.
What does he want then?
Forgive my language. but he wants
to prove he's still got some balls.
I realise submission is part of
a prime minister's role,
but you're a woman.
How very astute of you, Martin.
When these seemingly
small ego afflictions fester,
They can lead to
serious catastrophes.
I have better things to do.
Amélie, I swear, my advice to you
would be the same if you were a man.
Get him back on your side, invite him
over for lunch on Saturday.
If I were a man,
you would not speak to me this way
and Thorigny would certainly not
behave like such a prat.
I can play that game.
I'm going to behave just like a man,
I don't have to do anything at all.
Let him swallow his alpha male pride.
LIVING ROOM
SOCIALIST PARTY
Philippe's a sensitive man,
In fact, that's part of his charm.
But he's incapable of recognising
when it's time to move on.
As my son would say,
"He's old school."
He's nostalgic,
you might call him, melancholic.
In poetry and music,
these are positive attributes
but in politics...
All great men in history
who got lost and left behind
failed to recognise that times
were changing.
Al the Élysée, Dorendeu projects
the illusion, of continuity
but what is really behind
her pretty façade?
She's destroying old traditions,
crushing old customs and parties.
Can you imagine all of the programmes
at risk in unifying the left?
We have our centrists, as passionate
as ever about their independence...
Social-democrats who have always
embraced reality...
We also have
militants from the right,
often liberal,
sometimes with Gaullist tendencies,
but always supporting
a democratic Republic.
Let's all work together
towards creating a new world.
Let's learn from one another
by sharing our different experiences
and stories
while cherishing our convictions.
They are
our source of motivation and honour.
These are the values that, in part,
define us.
And let's, once and for all,
converge all these values together.
And Dorendeu is free to execute
her plan.
Without an agreement with Chalon,
the right has no where else to turn,
and Thorigny won't have
any opposition to his liberal agenda.
Isn't that right?
If you say so, I don't know,
that's all very theoretical.
I like to think in concrete terms,
let me ask you this, Michel,
why don't you sign the petition
for the referendum on education?
-Because it won't change anything.
-But it's for the children, damn it!
And if you lose the referendum?
Do we just pack up our bags,
as we did in '84, and that's it?
Are we going to risk the future
of our educational system
on a referendum? I can't accept that.
The best way to introduce coeducation
in schools, is to have me elected
and to implement my programme.
Laurent?
Rickwaert's school proposal doesn't
seem very constructive.
Rickwaert won't let it go
but it's doomed to fail.
You don't know the man.
-I do...
-Well, tell him.
He's crazy, the man knows no limits.
That's good because neither do I.
I know a man who once got into
a pissing match with Rickwaert,
his name was Francis Laugier.
And so?
We don't do anything because
the man's a media circus animal
with a long criminal record?
Rickwaert is playing his cards,
who can blame him?
He's showing courage
and so should we.
There's no gain without risk.
Let's all take a risk.
Of course, you want us
to take a risk, it's to your benefit.
You'll be the party leader and
the next presidential candidate,
right?
Who would you prefer then? Amélie?
She's in the role, she's proven
she's capable of state leadership.
But a strong agenda should always
take precedence over individuals.
And who is the best person.
To bridge differences between
Laurent at one end and
Francois at the other?
That would be me,
of course.
I'm not holding a gun to your head
on this.
I'm not paying you off
to get you on my side.
I'm not asking you to compromise
your convictions.
You are free to choose your path but
I'm moving to begin a new chapter.
However long it takes,
I know that we will come together
to fight against the extreme politics
that are threatening our country.
-Hi, Salomé.
-I'm here, Dad.
Where are you exactly?
I'm on the beach.
-I can see you, I'm up here.
-I don't see you...
You're quiet.
I have a thousand questions,
but I'm sure
you have things you want to say.
-Why don't you tell me about you?
-I guess...
-A referendum?
-No, I'd rather not discuss politics.
You know,
If I get started on politics,
I'll get all wound up and
I won't listen,
-and I really need to listen to you.
-All right.
You look well.
Although I said that before
when in fact...
I'm fine
I'm better now. I still take
a few pills but a lot less.
I've even agreed to see
my rotten father.
Now that the referendum is
dead, thanks to our report,
the educational reform movement
will finally come to an end.
This should serve to
calm Balsan down.
Now, let's just hope
your prime minister stops sulking.
It's just childish behaviour,
nothin more.
I no longer have the pressure of
a referendum hanging over my head
and I won't have to recant
on my campaign promise.
He's not a threat any more.
I can't argue with that.
Thank you, yes.
You all right?
What about our plans for
a weekend together on the 15th?
Yes, we can leave on Friday.
We can visit Maeght in the morning,
our guest house isn't far.
-And my brother lives around there.
-I met with Vidal.
Vidal?
Your family? I trust you
just as you trust me.
I want to share
what's important in my life with you.
Very well, and... Is he interested
in supporting the referendum?
The referendum has suffered
a significant blow,
no, he's interested in me.
What did he have to offer?
Prime candidate for Hauts-de-France
In the European election.
For Vidal, the European elections
are just a stepping stone,
his real target is Lille.
He wants you to become mayor
of Lille?
That's right, at first
I had the same reaction.
He told me about the Indignados.
They won in Barcelona, they're doing
all kinds of interesting things.
Vidal is right to consider a win
in Lille,
especially with you.
Don't worry, I turned him down.
You don't sound convinced.
You know me,
I'd never leave my party.
But come to think of it,
what's going on with my party?
We have a great first secretary,
at least, in my opinion.
But between Thorigny and Vidal,
the old guard seems antiquated.
So, besides visiting Maeght
and meeting your family,
which will be fantastic,
what does our future look like,
Daniel?
Yes, I can hear you now.
We lost four more senators,
that's significant.
Are your activists
still in good spirits?
Yeah, although they don't seem to
laugh as hard at Toph's jokes.
Is he still busy trolling?
Yes, this morning he targeted
Champaigne's Facebook page.
-Really
-Just the usual, personal attacks
criticising her past, her family,
her car, stupid photos of her...
-Toph is right.
-I'm sorry?
Listen, I think I have an idea,
let me call you back.
Add friend
Bastien, do you still work
in the mayor's office?
I don't think that'll work.
What about Delphine?
Great! Do you think I can call her?
I can't really tell you much,
right now
but to give you an idea,
I have names of children here
and I'd like to know
if they attend public schools or not.
I know it's sensitive.
SIGN-UP
It's free
Create an account
Add friend
Invitation sent
Fabienne Champaigne
has accepted your invitation
Catholic Sports and
Education Federation
APEL
A taste of freedom
Parents of Students Association
for Open Education
Project Leader
Special Education Needs
Mr Carthaud!
Please, sir.
Sir, can you explain the tweet
you put out this monning?
I simply asked,
"How many committee members
"have children
attending private schools?"
It's a legitimate question, isn't it?
It's important to ensure this study
is unbiased. You wouldn't ask
a Monsanto employee to write
a report on pesticides, right?
Mr Carthaud!
Do more digging on Monsanto, Pascal,
that was brilliant, stay on it!
A study like this has to be impartial
and objective,
but in this case,
clearly there are many people
with vested interests involved.
Mrs Champaigne, a study spokesperson,
is also a member of
the diocese committee, APEL,
one of the key organisations
supporting private education.
The bishop of Paris
names diocese committee members.
He chose Mrs Champaigne.
When she signs off on the report
is she serving the needs of
the prime minister, or the bishop?
The Debate on Private Education
Rages On
Don't worry, even if you are on
a prime time news show,
You don't need to change anything.
Just be yourself!
Don't you believe in
Mrs Champaigne's project proposal?
Let's not be naive,
there'll always be inequalities
between schools and students.
Did you hear the story about
the principal of an Alsatian school?
He made a joke about some
parent-teacher meetings
resembling
government council sessions.
That's so typical!
He had no idea his words
would make people so angry.
Don't you think
this vendetta against Mrs Champaigne
will become counter-productive
and harm your cause?
I personally have nothing against
Mrs Champaigne. The question is,
should the state be funding
social inequalities
or should state funding be redirected
to promote diversity programmes?
I ask you and I ask Mrs Champaigne
the same question.
Carthaud's managing quite well,
don't you think?
Call Philippe to tell him,
he'll be pleased.
Initially, he wanted me to do it.
Why did you refuse?
I told him it would complicate
things for me at the Assembly.
His politics are nothing but
cheap populism.
Do you believe diversity will come
by threatening people? Seriously?
What "people?"
Their report is a scam.
It's the same thing, Fanny!
We make it personal, we attack,
we openly accuse others
and pit people against each other.
Have you looked up "Champaigne"?
No.
It's like a public lynching.
It's sickening.
Years from now,
when her grandchildren go onto
the Web, they'll see horrible things.
Of course I called her, poor thing,
she thought she was giving
an expert opinion on a report
and she ends up with TV reporters
on her doorstep day and night.
Champaigne is a simple woman,
her name's being dragged through
the mud, it's hell for her children.
Politics is a war of words.
When you bring bishops,
and congregations into a debate
on state education, it's troubling.
It's ridiculous.
She was only on that committee one
year, and that was five years ago.
The Champaigne family
lives in Raincy,
the golden enclave
at the heart of Seine-Saint-Denis.
None of the students from the school
there, Gagarine, are from Raincy.
L'Obs is going to publish a report
on segregation in that district
And I'm afraid it may not stop there.
Rightly or wrongly, this woman is
becoming an icon
representing school ghettoisation.
Where are you going with this?
The referendum has the wind
in its sails.
If we stop the controversy,
we quash their campaign.
-What do we have to concede?
-Nothing, we kill it.
We instruct the Education Commission
to reject the report.
You want to bury the report?
But that won't solve anything.
-If you kill the report, I'll resign.
-What are you saying?
Rickwaert will never get 4.5 million
signatures or win over 185 deputies.
No, but he may reach the conditions
I set out in my programme,
2,000,000 citizens and 100 deputies.
Is there a law to support that?
No, so there won't be any referendum.
You plan on resigning
after only three months?
It's not a question of time,
it's a question of principle.
There's a symposium on Saturday
at the Sorbonne
to mark the anniversary
of the Constitutional Council.
They asked me to give a key note
speech but I think you should go.
It will be a good opportunity for you
to set the record straight on our
plans for constitutional reform and
to publicly state you have no
intent to change referendum rules.
I'm sorry. Unfortunately,
I have other plans on Saturday.
Did you hear the story of
the principal at an Alsatian school?
He made a joke about some
parent-teacher meetings
resembling
government council sessions.
That's so typical! He had no idea...
-May I?
-Yes, of course.
This stupid video
launches automatically!
My son listened to it
so much over the weekend,
he knows it by heart,
I can't stand it!
Michel, we have to stop them.
They've gone too far.
Stop them? They're defending
our cause and using our slogans.
We have other means of attack.
Have you listened to their message?
They're insinuating that
district kids are immigrants,
-there's a colonialist undertone...
-They are not racists.
-I wouldn't say they're racists,
-No, I said, "colonialist."
Well, I don't want to. risk my future
by insulting anyone.
Anyway, Kalhenberg will not lose
any deputies to them,
Dorendeu is sure to step in and
the socialists will crush them.
And then they'll join our party?
Is that it?
Just like Véronique Bosso?
You said that?
I should've let her walk all over me?
Threatening to resign is effective
until the time comes,
when you actually have to do it.
I know what I'm talking about.
You deliver your little tirade
and next thing you know,
the president accepts
your resignation.
Afterwards, you realise this was
the biggest mistake in your life.
The next morning, you go out to
buy a newspaper like some sorry loser
and that's it, you're left
with absolutely nothing to do.
I sat down and watched a kids' show,
Candy, with my daughter.
I struggled to hold my tears back.
I think I frightened her,
she won't reject the report.
You don't know her.
She'll never give in to threats,
-she's going to let you go.
-Nonsense.
She'd lose her majority. There's
no way she'd call an election now.
It's not her fault you're resigning.
She'd just shift further to the left,
you'd leave with strong
private sector support.
Her popularity has increased
since appointing you.
You're both held in high regard.
It's all going to hinge on
how people perceive your resignation.
Is it an act of courage
to defend your values?
Or a defection, as a consequence
of political ambition?
-What do you think?
-It sounds fishy.
Don't be so rash.
Many will think you're leaving
to avoid a clash with protestors.
Or they'll think you can't handle
the pressures of the job.
This is off to a bad start.
Fine, I get the picture.
Force her hand.
Always start with
the worst possible scenario,
assuming she accepts
your resignation.
Laurent is right,
everything hinges on
how people perceive your resignation,
Who'll be held responsible?
You or her?
That's the crux of the matter, but...
Let's imagine you make
a swift and bold political move
Before she rejects the report, then
she has no choice but to accept it.
That changes everything.
They'll say she fired me
as a result of my political move
and she'll be held
responsible for all the chaos.
But how can you set that up?
It should involve the Church somehow,
make her look like some kind of
bitter sectarian political schemer.
Let's work together, the three of us.
Let's face the extremists together,
be the voice of reason.
The moderates against the left,
who want a war on education,
and against the right,
who are busy twiddling their thumbs.
We have to move fast, we can't
organise a meeting in three days!
People will suspect
we're up to something.
Why don't we start with a news op-ed?
I tried that before with the 49.3
article, she couldn't care less.
An op-ed is so old-fashioned.
What are you doing on Saturday?
This is a meeting the prime minister,
who traditionally always attends.
Every year, walking with supporters,
he makes his way through
the heart of his district, Souleuvre.
This procession is in memory of
seven fallen Resistance fighters.
But the surprise, this morning
was to see the prime minister
accompanied by the Assembly
Socialist President, Laurent Mirmont
and Francois Boudard, former home
secretary for Jean-Marc Auzanet
The three men
seemed particularly happy
to be participating together
in today's event.
Arseholes...
-Yes, Toph?
-Wow!
These baklavas are amazing.
Good! I'll be there in 25 minutes.
Is Cyril still sulking?
I'm not sure, I'm facing his back.
That bastard never called me back.
Stéphane Thorigny and
his group are making their way...
Hang on, I have to go!
Two surprises guests:
Republican François Boudard
and Socialist Laurent Mirmont
Although we're still waiting for
the three men's press briefing
there are rumours they may announce
a new "Reformers' Association,"
a forum to facilitate dialogue
between the left and right
Calling for a "third force"
uniting two thirds
of the French people
may be an old idea,
Stéphane Thorigny's appointment
in Matignon by the President
is said to have highlighted...
We are facing tremendous challenges,
globalisation, Europe, clean energy.
We need to stand united.
Let me emphatically say to
members supporting the left
who have spent the last few weeks
engaging in deceptive practices
to start a war in education
with inquisitive methods.
We've had enough criticism and
finger pointing.
And I strongly implore members
supporting the right
who may bé persuaded by incentives
to shift their position,
Stop!
Stop before things get out of hand!
My dear citizens,
let's end artificial partisan
divisions and focus on new...
I've heard enough.
Is the symposium
at the Sorbonne, today?
Yes, the last session
will be at 6:00 p.m.
Tell the organisers
we're inviting ourselves.
I want to deliver my speech
on institutional reform to cover
limitations on
the number of terms In office.
elimination of article 49.3,
except for finances, and...
It's in three hours,
we don't have a speech.
-We'll work on it in the car.
-What about the referendum?
Let's be consistent, they need 10% of
voter support and 285 deputies.
But Thorigny's message was clear,
we'll be contradicting him.
I'm well aware of that, Martin.
Call him out! He's out of line!
Call who out? My prime minister
with whom we signed an agreement?
The alliance was designed with
the socialists as the cornerstone
and Thorigny as the counterbalance,
you were the only possible leader of
the centrist block, but now...
Boudard has joined Thorigny and
power has now shifted to the right,
putting Thorigny
at the centre of the game.
This is going to be a long battle.
We have lots of time
before the next election,
that's when we need to be ready.
Right now, we have to stand firm,
I don't want to victimise him, it
only serves to validate his cause.
Anyone can start
a political movement,
it doesn't mean it's going to fly.
With Mirmont and Boudard by his side,
I wish our prime minister luck.
Stéphane Thorigny called for unity
with his usual temperance...
We used to abide by a code of honour.
We still pulled some punches but
at least we respected the rules.
We didn't jump from one camp
to the other, like Mirmont...
Who cares about Mirmont?
The question here is Amélie.
I just spoke to her.
She said now's the worst time
for the dissolution of parliament and
that we shouldn't lift a finger.
You're not going to do anything?
She's president.
If she goes down, we all go down.
She's the only one responsible
for all this!
In forming an alliance with Thorigny
she gave him a leg up and
now he's unstoppable, he'll push
to defeat us, just like Vidal.
If Thorigny gains control
over Amélie, it's possible,
but if not, she'll define
his boundaries.
She's not interested in a liberal
approach, it's "progressivism."
Do you know
what "progressivism" means?
Well, it's centre-left,
but it's still left.
Is this just a battle
between two different personalities?
It's the Fifth Republic...
Either Amélie wins against Thorigny
and we end up on the centre-left
or she loses, and we end up
on the centre-right.
Either way,
what happens to the Socialist Party?
What if I issue a press release?
But what would you say?
I'd have Mirmont excluded.
Daniel, not Mirmont again!
He's shitting all over the party.
We've gone too long without
discipline, that's enough!
The Socialist Party is dying,
forget about standards and sanctions.
Be a real politician, damn it!
You're the head of the party,
only you can prevent our demise!
-Support the Republic's children.
-I can't possibly do that!
All we need are 30 deputies and
100 government members on our side.
You can make that happen
In no time at all,
then we'll easily obtain the
2,000,000 signatures we need.
And Amélie will invoke article 11
to call the referendum.
Actually, we need 285
deputies and 4.6 million signatures.
She'll never back down on
a campaign promise,
she's staked her reputation on it.
In two hours,
she'll be at the Sorbonne
attending the Constitutional Council.
She'll confirm she has no intention
of amending referendum procedures,
it's over, Philippe
We have to act now!
Come to school with me.
Since the beginning of the strike,
every Saturday, there's a party.
It's like a left-wing street party
with children, parents and teachers.
We all have a laugh,
give ourselves a pat on the back
and you make the party
relevant to people again.
Then you publicly state your support
for our cause, hooray!
And Amélie backs down.
-I don't know.
-Of course, you do!
Do you want to lose all your votes
like a Greek politician?
Bring Amélie back to order
by hook or by crook,
but she can't go back on her word
at the Sorbonne.
When we get the green light
on the referendum,
Vidal will be screwed,
he'll have to support it.
And then, we're back in business,
there's a "Yes" camp on the left,
and a "No" camp on the right.
We quash the idea of having
three parties from the get-go.
No, you're not dreaming.
When you get to heaven,
you'll have a spot
between Blum and Mitterand.
-Ready to go?
-Come on...
What if she stands irm,
If she doesn't back down?
If she doesn't back down,
then she becomes a right-wing woman
and you remain a left-wing man.
Take responsibility for the rift
between the party and the Élysée.
Protect the old guard.
It's easy to start a
War of the Roses,
but what then?
How far are we willing to go?
They say that to become president,
it has to be a life-long passion.
But I don't believe that,
history decides.
You just have to be the right person
at the right time.
Notify the media.
What are you up to, here?
You can't do it?
Look, swing your line over here,
hook in the tail! Nice!
-Hello? Where are you? What?
-I'm with your boyfriend.
He's on the left just like you and I,
it's wonderful!
We're just leaving the office now.
We'll meet you at the school.
See you later.
Kalhenberg is joining Rickwaert.
I just heard it on AFP news.
Did you find it?
Yes, here it is...
No reference to it in article 61
between the '74 and 2008 revisions.
Madam President...
Kalh is joining the children's cause.
Why are you looking so glum?
Well, you know...
Smile, for God's sake!
We just hit the jackpot!
Vidal, Amélie, Mirmont and Thorigny!
This is an epic win!
Come on, Daniel!
Loosen up and enjoy, man!
Lehaïm!
It's Amélie.
Put your phone away, Daniel.
Go on, put it away!
Thank your Mum for me! All right...
Here we go, some ketchup and
mayonnaise.
You're welcome.
They'll be here shortly.
Hey, Cyril!
Yes, I understood,
Philippe is coming with Kalhenberg
and we'll get more signatures.
Do you realise what this means?
This is your district, this is where
it all started, thanks to you.
There they are.
It's Vidal.
This is no time for whining,
you have to seize this opportunity.
You put these kids in the spotlight
and united the left
and I want you to rise above
anyone who hasn't understood that.
Come. Let me introduce you.
My comrades...
-Hello?
-Vidal has just arrived.
We're almost there.
-What's going on?
-Don't worry.
Véronique, I'm so happy to see you.
Are you pleased to see me?
Very happy, Michel!
I'm proud to introduce you to
Fanny Cholet and Cyril Balsan.
Will our hero of the day honour me
with a guided tour?
It'd be my pleasure, this way.
AFP News reports that Vidal
has just arrived at the school.
Vidal is at the school.
It'll be fine Daniel, relax.
Do you know what Vidal will do with
your referendum?
This is a Judas kiss,
first chance he gets...
Give me that!
Not so fast.
Nothing has been decided, yet...
This is about the future of the left.
Vidal is like a political jihadist.
We've got a bourgeois camp on
one side and Vidal on the other,
-I'll get crushed.
-Let me tell you something, Daniel.
In Australia, 50,000 years ago,
humans faced the fiercest predator
the world had ever seen,
the Diprotodon, an animal with
three tons of muscle and a huge jaw.
All right, Philippe, enough!
At the time, humans felt
just as you do now,
they thought they'd get killed.
But in the end, they survived,
and all the Diprotodons disappeared.
Do you know why?
-I want to get back to Paris.
-It's all in the mind.
Humans set the forest on fire,
they terrorised the animals and
secured their territory.
Logical thinking saved them.
Just give me my phone.
I want to call Uber.
There's nothing Vidal enjoys more
than a good hunt.
He strategises day and night until
he finds a way to trap his prey.
But this time, he hasn't had
much time to think.
He knows that
time is working against him.
If he doesn't act fast,
he'll get screwed.
And so he's weak, vulnerable.
Today, he's the prey,
and we have to
manage the fires to trap him.
This is where our-power is.
All right, I'll go.
Break a leg, Daniel.
Aren't you coming?
I have to be in Dunkirk
in two and a half hours.
-Everything okay?
-Let me speak to Daniel.
I'm sorry, he's busy right now.
This place is packed, it's great!
How's your symposium?
This is very serious,
do you know what you're doing?
You know, Amélie,
I did have a moment of doubt
but then I thought,
what if I were living in the past?
What if they were right about
their "new world?"
As I'm standing here watching this,
I realise some things never change,
like the right and left.
But it's important to periodically
question our fundamental beliefs.
Psychologists define it
as introspection.
You should try it, revisit
your principles, your identity.
Think about whether you want to be
on the left or right, for example.
It's just that right now,
you don't have much time to think.
Your choice is simple.
Either you kill the referendum and
side with your friends on the right.
but that could be difficult,
Thorigny has already made his move.
Or, you invoke article 11 and
come back where you belong
on the left. You never should have
abandoned us in the first place.
I send you my love.
Please, move out of the way.
Don't stop, keep going.
Madam President!