Spin (2012–2016): Season 2, Episode 4 - La cuillère du diable - full transcript

Presidential palace, Saturday

You're sure these are

the terrorists' vehicles?

My head hurts,
I can't see anything.

Yes, sir.

Let's trust the Algerians.

If they say the terrorists
are leaving, it's true.

They can't take
the hostages.

They'll be sold
to other groups.

Getting them back'll take years.

- They're right to intervene.
- That's not the problem.



The problem
is how...

How they will intervene.

If it's
with machine guns...

What's that?
What's happening?

It's a rocket.

They want to block their way.

The Men in the Shadows

We pushed the terrorists
back to the site.

I see.
How many dead?

We're not sure.

Minister!

How many of the hostages?

I'm sorry.
2 are dead,

from our initial observations.



5 in the 1st attack, 2 now.

That's a lot of dead.

They're dangerous madmen.

We all know that!

That's just it...

You have to handle them
like nitroglycerin.

I want no more dead.

Their leaving took us
by surprise.

We need time.

I'm glad you've come
to this conclusion.

I'll keep you posted.
Goodbye, Mr. President.

That went well,
Mr. President.

What can we do
to end this fucking mess?

I'm not up to the task.

It's clear.

I'm unable to
do my work.

Mr. President,
nothing will happen tonight.

I'll sleep for an hour.
I'll see how I feel.

Call the prime minister,
the foreign affairs minister,

Interior, Defense.
Everyone.

When I'm awake...

Bakian's calling.

I hope it's good news -
I've had enough bad news.

Mr. Bakian...

Hello, Gabrielle.

They agree in principle
to negotiate.

I just need your green light.

I have to go now.

What guarantees can you give me,
for the president?

The names of the victims
in your inbox, dear friend.

I'll tell the president.

I don't like this so-called
diplomat stuck to me.

That's procedure.
You know.

Oh, yes! "Procedure," yes.

Hurry, Gabrielle.

Give me Captain Francis.

Captain Francis, I expect you
to keep me posted

on the negotiations
as they happen.

All right, ma'am.
I'll give you regular updates.

The fate of the hostages
is in your hands.

- President.
- Hello, Simon.

Bakian...

just left for Tripoli

where he has a contact
with the terrorists.

Officially, you know,
France

doesn't negotiate.

We must keep up the impression
that we don't negotiate.

What if we get them back?

We're not there yet.

Meanwhile,

handle things as we decided.

Excuse me. I'm sorry.

I'm exhausted.

- Do you trust Bakian?
- No.

- A bit.
- And the president?

When you dine with the devil,
use a big spoon.

We took precautions.

- Like what?
- Stuck him with an intelligence guy.

Did Bakian give you
the victims' names?

Their bodies haven't been
officially identified.

We just have their word.

We can't make a mistake.

It'd be awful for the families
and bad for France.

So, we keep quiet?

Usually,
foreign affairs handles it.

- Let them deal with it.
- No.

When the president
hasn't been seen,

his office must speak.

But the situation is set.
We can say nothing.

We can say...

part of the truth.

Everything's being done to bring
the Gazex hostages back

to their families.

We can't say any more,

to guarantee their safety.

I ask you.

In the name of these women
and men,

to respect this
and provide no details.

I'll polish it a bit.

Sounds very foreign affairs.

Fine with me.

I'll go write it up properly.

I hope nothing will happen
tonight.

Even terrorists have to sleep
now and then.

- Hello.
- Hi, Charlotte.

This press release says nothing.

The hostages' lives are at stake.

All the same.

What are you plotting?

- I have some info.
- Yes?

- Do you know who Bakian is?
- Vaguely.

His name is starting to
get around. Intermediary?

Deleuvre may have taken him
to the president's office.

- "May have"?
- Yes. I don't know any more.

And he took a private jet
to Tripoli.

Isn't that strange?

You know everything.
You should've been a cop.

Bakian's doing business.

Any hostage negotiations
will be in Tripoli.

It can't be in Tunisia
or Syria. It's gotta be Libya.

But officially
there are no negotiations.

All journalists
and all politicians

respect the law of silence.

I can still dig around.

We won't print it.

We know journalists held
hostage.

Their freedom depends on the State:

I won't piss off the government
about this.

I want to go to Tripoli.

No.

I can't just listen
to their bogus statements.

It's happening elsewhere.

I won't pay for your ticket.

If I bring you something
we can print...

will you pay me back?

Are you tired?

What's going on?

With all this drama,
things are bad.

There was no honeymoon.

Marjorie fell in the polls
after 3 months.

What did they expect?

Miracles?

Probably.

Would Anne Visage have done better?

I have no idea.

The proof is in the pudding.

And now, with all this...

The world is bad.

It's not the president,
it's not France,

it's the world.

"The world"!

The world's hardly ever good.

Excuse me.

Yes, Assa.

You can go.
I'm at the house now.

Thanks.

It's my nanny.
I'm late.

Are you troubled?

Yes.

If you like...
I have frozen dinners.

What an irresistible offer.

Frozen dinners aren't that bad.

The wine is good.

So that means you don't like
the food.

Next time,
I'll make pasta.

You know how to cook?

Not exactly, but I...

I can make pasta.

Mom!

Excuse me.

- Thanks.
- OK. He's asleep.

Could you tell me Victor's story,
if I'm not prying?

With no father in sight,
I adopted.

I thought it would be easy,

it would be good.

Left-wing activism.

Not really left-wing.

No. It was complicated?

Yes, a little.

But you hung on?
You're not the type to give up.

I have no regrets, but...
I feel guilty.

I'm never here.

Victor has 2 nannies.
It's hard for him.

How did you manage
with your daughter?

How'd I manage what?

How'd you raise her?

Not very well, I think.

In fact, not at all
as I'd imagined.

I couldn't refuse her
anything. I should have.

What does she do?

- It's not in my file?
- No.

It's not.

"What does she do?"

If I only knew!

It drives me crazy.

- She's 25.
- Yes. Everyone says that.

But she's still my daughter.

I didn't abandon her.

"What does she do?"

She's writing about
something or other.

Her mother's thrilled.

They're both...

I don't know.
Journalism is an illness.

I try not to think about it.

But you think about it anyway.

- I'll go. You're exhausted.
- Yes. I'm...

- My mother said: "I'm cooked."
- Yes, I'm cooked.

Thanks for dinner.

It was a pleasure.

MOm!

Hello, Gabrielle.

Hello, Simon.

...foreign military uniforms

and stores of arms
and explosives.

It was reported
that the terrorists,

who entered national territory
from border countries...

Finally!

I'm happy to see you.

In this crisis
you leave me 25 messages?

"25 messages"?
Aren't you exaggerating a bit?

What are you doing?

What do you mean?

For the hostages?

You know I can't answer that.

Of course.
You can never answer.

What are you doing?

Are you investigating networks
sending fighters to Syria?

Yes.

Juliette, these are dangerous people.

I'm going to Syria.

You can't do that.

You're completely oblivious.

- There are journalists there.
- There's a war.

You could get shot at
or hit by bombs.

You could be killed,
journalist or not.

You could be kidnaped.

What if I get a photo
with a gun to your head?

I'd do anything,
but I work for the president.

That could make you a target.

You know state secrets,
so I have to stay home?

It's always about you.
I don't count.

I can't forget I'm Kapita's daughter.

I have no life -
it'd bother you.

You know that's not true.

Why'd you come back anyway?

To see me or to get info
for your Islamist friends?

I came to get clothes.
And I'm going.

Tell me where!

I'll tell you when I leave.

Fuck...

Libya, Sunday

Is this your 1st time in Libya,
Captain?

You'll see, they're
very hospitable.

You, come with me.

The Frenchman stays.

You're not invited, Captain.

You'll have to trust me.

They'll take you to the car
to go back to the hotel.

I got it.

Captain!

Tell the office
it's going as planned.

It may take some time.

Telephone.

I'm sorry. Bakian
left alone with the terrorists.

I had no choice.

How long will the negotiation take?

I don't know, but Bakian says
it's going as planned

and you'll have to be patient.

Very well.

- I'll wait for your call, Captain.
- OK.

I hope we didn't make a mistake
sending Bakian!

It'll be OK.

What are you doing?

Can't you see?
I'm getting dressed.

Alain!

I have to see Lenoir,
head of Gazex.

- Did the negotiations start?
- Yes.

Y0u'll PaY-

Can you help me, please?

- You were doing better this morning.
- Yes, but...

Then exhaustion hits me,
and it's terrifying.

- You should sleep 15 hours a day.
- Yes. I "should."

I'll test the waters with Gazex.
You know, this is all...

They say governing is
making decisions. No way!

My back's against the wall
with no room to move.

With an ego
like the Eiffel Tower

and the certainty
of saving the world,

that must be tough.

- You're talking about me?
- No.

Isn't it crazy?

You blame me
for wanting to be president.

"Wanting to," no.

Winning, yes.

But you're wrong.

I like how you fight to save
the world. I liked it the 1st day.

There. You're ready.

And you...

you're very beautiful.

Why so elegant?

The hostages' families.

Can you handle it?

Yes.

See you soon, honey.

You know the CEO of Gazex,
Mr. Lenoir'?

I've met him several times.

Seems like a good guy.

- You don't need rne.
- You're receiving them here.

You can reassure them.

How can I reassure them?

Your presence shows
they're not abandoned.

I can't do it.

Listen...

You were a lawyer.
You were used to this.

I knew those people.
I wasn't speaking for the government.

I don't know what to say.

I don't know.

They all have a son,
brother, or husband.

And don't know if this son,
brother, or husband

is tied up to a chair

with a gun to his back.

Or if he's cold or hungry.

They don't know
if they'll see him again.

Now it's up to you.

I hate being preached to.

And I hate good deeds.

And I don't like families, Kapita.

Madame Elisabeth Marjorie.

- She's perfect.
- Thanks for coming.

The president's expecting me.

Yes. Come in.

- Hello, Mr. President.
- Hello, Richard.

Skip the formalities.
I'm tired. Have a seat.

Indeed, you don't look good.

It's a lot. So, Richard.
If, and I do mean "if,"

we manage to negotiate
with the terrorists,

are you ready to pay?

It all depends on the amount.

We don't have unlimited resources.

We have shareholders.

Your accounting is transparent
and you enter markets

without paying bribes,
I know.

That's exactly right,
Mr. President.

My colleagues and I discussed
this possibility.

It'd be hard
to go above 10 million.

Are you serious?

Or bargaining?

- I wouldn't do that.
- Yes, you would.

You'd bargain
over cafeteria prices.

Our finances aren't
what they once were.

15 million minimum
for you.

France will pay the rest,
if we negotiate.

Yes!

Are you OK?

Yes, I'm OK.
I'm just tired.

May I speak with you?

Could you leave us?

We have a call. Line 3.

Captain Francis.
Hello, Mr. President.

Ijust spoke to Bakian.

The terrorists
demand 25 million.

Bakian is trying
to lower the price,

but we have a big problem.

They want Abbad Wahid.

- "Abbad Wahid"?
- Yes, Mr. President.

Abbad Wahid is a war leader
said to be dead.

We said that he was
killed by a bomb,

but in fact he's held
by our troops in Mali.

H0w'd they know
he's alive?

Word spreads in Africa.

He's in a military camp
where civilians work.

- You'd transfer him to France?
- They want him let go.

No!

Mr. President,

we could take measures
to track him.

We just negotiate
the place and the conditions.

It depends on that.

What does intelligence say?

Too dangerous.

- Mr. President...
- No, no. Wait.

They want 25 million
and, as a bonus, the man responsible

for the death of French soldiers

and Malian civilians?

I'll tell you
the exact measures we can take.

That changes nothing.

Bakian can negotiate,
since he knows how.

I won't let Wahid go.

He'll come around.

You're optimistic.

22 hostages: he'll come around.

There's no other solution.
Change his mind.

You know I'm serious.

I understand, Captain.

I'll call you back.

We're agreed?

20 million?

OK for 20 million.

And Abbad Wahid?

He's a hero to us,

but the French
will never let him go.

We can drop it.

Just put more pressure on.

Human life is very important
to the French.

The situation
can't go on forever.

The fighters are mad.

The hostages are tired.

Abbad Wahid is a leader.

You asked for him
to be freed.

He was already dead to us.

Think it over.

If Al-Muthalimin can get
Abbad Wahid released,

they'll be famous throughout
Africa and the Middle East.

Do you really think
the French will give in?

Kill 2 hostages.

They'll give in, believe rne.

Why do you care about Wahid?

Wahid is a brother.

Corinthia Hotel, Libya

Hello. May I sit down?

Are you French?

Yes.

Wasn't that the French ambassador
to Tripoli?

Excuse me. You are...?

You're a journalist.

Sorry.

Appoline Vremler from Mediamag.

What are you doing in Tripoli?

Nothing to see here.

What are you doing here?

- Business.
- What kind of business?

Oil.

"Scada"? Thank you.

I don't think
I'll need your services.

Why didn't you call me?

I'm sorry.
The negotiations are broken off.

They threaten to kill 2 hostages.

I don't believe for a second
you can track Abbad Wahid.

Fucking bullshit!

Like asking

the U.S. to let Bin Laden go
and not kill him.

What about their threat?

- What if they kill 2 hostages?
- Quiet.

I want to be alone. Leave.

Your wife is in Tripoli.

My wife?
What's she doing in Tripoli?

- I'm asking you.
- First of all, she's my ex-wife.

Secondly, I don't know.

She's not there by chance.

I don't think so.

Go ahead, ask me.

"Simon, did you tell
your ex-wife

"about the secret negotiations?"

How could you think
I'd do that?

I'm sorry.

You know me better than that.

We're screwed.

Who's screwed?
Appoline or the president?

For now, the president.

I repeat:
who can influence him?

His wife, but she won't
get involved. Hussan, but...

It's complicated.

Does he trust you?

It's not enough.

We bring him the facts,
but the decision's up to him

and his own conscience.

OK.

Mr. Hussan? Simon Kapita.
May I see you?

Please come in, Kapita.

You fired the cleaning lady?

Yes. She wasn't classy enough
for this place.

And Rose?

She's taking a walk.

Do you want news
of my grandmother too?

She's dead.

I loved her a lot.
A good woman.

Is that good enough?

You're in no condition
to see the president.

Oh, no, I'm in no condition.

What's up with Marjorie?
Feeling melancholy?

- He needs his old friend.
- He didn't ask for you.

Oh! You're asking?

That's a real
p.r. guy idea.

What are you guys up to?

Did you get my message?

- What message?
- Deleuvre sent me his little...

Desmeuze

to ask me
about a certain Bakian.

I said: "Bakian...

"is bad news."

I'll make you coffee.
Take a cold shower.

A freezing shower.

Make yourself throw up.

Official cars don't make
the same noise.

Have you noticed?

Where's Rose?

That again?

Don't worry.
She hasn't left yet.

But I'm horrible,
I'm unbearable.

I do all it takes
for her to split.

So that...

Well, anyway.

That's not the problem.

So what's the problem?

The chief of staff
and Bakian know each other.

Yes. They've met.

No. More than that.

It could be a real pain
for her. And for Marjorie.

And for everyone.

If Kapita hadn't insisted...

He actually stuck me
in the shower.

Why? You were drunk?

- You don't look good either.
- Are you surprised?

What do the kidnapers want?

Why should I tell you?

Because I'm here.

- You always told me everything.
- Can't say the same for you.

They want the release
of Abbad Wahid.

- Who's negotiating?
- Bakian.

- Well, you managed it all.
- If you know Bakian,

why didn't you leave
his file for Palissy?

- What about continuity?
- Palissy has all he needs.

The intelligence services, too.

- They said nothing.
- You shouldn't have fired me.

You need
an experienced chief of staff.

I like Gabrielle a lot.

So, what do you know?

We can't prove it,
but we're almost sure

Bakian sold arms to Al-Qaeda
and is linked to Wahid.

So let Wahid go and pay.

If you don't,
there'll be a massacre.

I'm sure they threatened to kill
hostages. Am I wrong?

No.

They threaten to kill 2.

Let Wahid go and pay!
Whafre you waiting for?

For someone
to say it like that.

I'm going to miss you, Benoit.

Now that I'm president,
no one speaks up to me.

It's like I'm in an elastic world.

A padded room?

No. Not yet.

No...

There's just you and Elisabeth.

The 2 who love you the most
also make you worry the most.

I can't let you
run for election.

Or give you a prestigious job.

Don't worry.
I won't bug you.

I won't cause problems.

I'll retire to the country.

- What's wrong? Are you sick?
- I'm OK.

I'm tired.

I have a bit of sciatica.

We're not getting younger.

I gave you a cane
when you turned 50.

Do you remember?

To give me shit because
I was a year older than you.

Are you still?

I don't know. Maybe.

Don't see me out.

I know the way.

Let's cut the terrorists' Internet.

They show whatever they want.

- Where's this from?
- Algerian National television.

OK. That's enough.

Get the terrorists out of there
and track Wahid.

Don't worry,
Mr. president.

We won't lose him.

I'll hold you responsible.

You asked for me, President?

I wanted to thank you
about Hussan.

- The sciatica idea is working?
- Perfectly.

In 1981, Mitterrand thought
he had sciatica.

It was prostate cancer.

Are you bringing me bad luck?

No, other presidents
had sciatica with no issues.

Let's hope so.

Yes, yes. I know.

Yes.

We hope to resolve
the situation quickly.

I can't say any more.

You'll be the 1st to know.

Your newspaper has always
had special treatment.

OK. Good night.

Le Monde.

I'm tired.

Victor's sleeping at a friend's.

It's Rose.

Benoit left.

I don't know where he is.

I can't stay in this place
all alone.

I don't know where to go.

Please...

Come.

How long have you known Bakian?

I hadn't seen him for 6 years.

Where'd you meet him? How?

In Budapest,
at an embassy cocktail party.

He offered his services.

Discreetly.

"His services"?

What services?

- Is this an interrogation?
- No.

He comes from nowhere,
he knows everybody.

I need information.

Hussan says you know him well.

"Hussan"?

How does he know?
I don't know him well. Except...

"Except" what?

He helped me adopt Victor.

Victor was in a Hungarian orphanage.
His case was frozen.

He unfroze it,
I don't know how.

You paid him?

Yes.

Wait, Simon...
Don't look like that.

It was an awful place. Victor
could've been stuck there for months.

I was scared
someone else would get him.

I fell in love with him.
I wanted this child.

That's the reason:
"I wanted."

So you bought him.

You didn't know if his parents

were alive,
gave him up willingly,

if everything was done
by the book.

- He was in an orphanage.
- That means nothing.

The procedure's long so that

the rules
are followed for the child's good.

All was in order.
Victor was adopted legally.

There are also delays
due to corrupt bureaucrats.

Then you deal with
an official organization,

not Bakian.

What do you know about the parents?

Nothing. But...

Oh, "nothing"!

Nothing.

I'm sorry.

But I'm not hungry anymore.

Wahid was released
in this area,

in Mali,
near the Mauritanian border.

He fled here,

near Bir Moghrein.
We tracked him there.

The terrorists will leave
the site at 5 AM tomorrow.

With 7 hostages
to guarantee their safety.

What? "7"?

They know the exchange
will be dangerous.

They chose an area
that's hard to get to.

But not impossible.
The Algerians tell us

they can intervene.

Risking 7 hostages' lives.

Mr. President,

15 hostages will be freed
at the site.

Every life counts,
Minister.

I released Abbad Wahid
to avoid a massacre.

I can't...

France can't let
the terrorists get away.

There'll be an intervention
during the exchange.

Corinthia Hotel, Libya

This is yours...

Room 821.

I have information.

Tuesday

Operation complete,
Mr. President.

The Algerians recovered the money
and 6 hostages.

The 7th is dead.

Thanks, Admiral.

Can I keep it?

Yes, yes.

The journalists know
you're tired

and have sciatica.

No point in saying a lot.
Keep it short.

Take the number of questions
you want.

Stop when you want.

I'm sure no journalists
will try to trap you.

Everyone's just... relieved.

Not as much as I am.

But I have the dead
on my conscience.

No. Not you, President.

The terrorists.

You should be a shrink, Kapita.

Why not?

- May I?
- Go ahead.

Shrink or dresser.

The president of the Republic.

Please be seated.

Hello, ladies and gentlemen.

At 8:30 this morning.

The terrorists were intercepted
by an Algerian commando

at the Mauritanian border.

5 of them were killed

along with 1 of the 7 hostages,

Yves Lefoll.

I want to express
my deep sympathy to his family.

As well as to the families
of the French citizens killed

in the attack on the gas site.

Once again, I want

to assure them
of our support

in this difficult time.

The 15 hostages
who remained at the site

are in our embassy in Algiers.
They're doing well.

They'll return home
in a few days.

- Mr. President?
- Yes. Go ahead.

There are rumors that you released
Abbad Wahid.

Are these rumors true?

He was killed 3 months ago.

So it would've been hard
to release him.

I won't comment on rumors.

Mr. Bélier?

Did the French army
support the operation?

You're back?

Just got off the plane.
I was waiting for you.

I'm here.

I know everything.

Who negotiated, who you released,
what you paid. Everything.

I'm going to write it.

Subtitles: Eclair Group