The Crimson Rivers (2018–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - La Dernière Chasse: Partie 1 - full transcript

Jean-Louis!

Jean-Louis!

Stop! It's me!

Jean-Louis! For God's sake!

Jean-Louis.

Jean-Louis, it's Pierre.

What the hell happened to you?

The sword

and the snake.

Niéma...

Bloody hell.



What the hell?

My God, Jean-Louis.

Hello. I've found a body in the dunes.

I'll wait for you here.

THE CRIMSON RIVERS

SONGS OF DARKNESS: PART I

Good evening.

Colonel Sabrina Harel.

I head the criminal
research team in Lille.

Commissioner Niémans, CBCO Paris.

Is it true you knew the victim?

Yes.

He's Jean-Louis Querneaux.

He lived at the nearby monastery.



He was known there
as Brother Guillaume.

I knew him long before
he joined the order.

- He called today. He wanted to meet.
- Did he say why?

- He felt threatened.
- By who?

- He didn't have time to tell me.
- Of course.

Wait.

Where had you arranged
to meet? In the dunes?

At the monastery.
He'd already left when I arrived.

Thank you.

One of the monks showed me to
the coast, and I went to look for him.

I saw him running through
the dunes. He wouldn't stop.

Do you know what
the burned hand is about?

No.

OK.

And he died before you reached him?

- Yes.
- Right.

When's the autopsy?

Leave the questions to me.
You're just a witness here.

We'll see.

In the meantime, contact Gaillard.
He's a crime expert in Lille.

We worked together in Paris.
He's the best.

Tell him to get his arse over here
as soon as he can.

Meet me at my office
tomorrow morning.

To sign your statement.

Commissioner Niémans.

I need to speak to
the Father Superior, please.

Hello. I'm Father Anselme.
I'm in charge of the monastery.

Commissioner Niémans from Paris.
Do you know why I'm here?

Are you leading the investigation?

I'm here as backup.
Brother Guillaume was a friend.

- Did you know I was here yesterday?
- At the monastery?

No, I wasn't aware.

Shall we take a walk?

Guillaume told me
he felt threatened.

- Did you know that?
- Brother Guillaume threatened?

But he never left the monastery.

He left yesterday, and it didn't
work out too well for him.

- You don't wear a habit, Father?
- We're not obliged to.

- You don't attend the services either?
- It's not a service.

They're praying
for Brother Guillaume.

- Can you think of a motive?
- Absolutely not.

The culprit must not be of sound mind.
May God forgive them.

- Why do you think so?
- I see no reason for this crime.

In all his years here,
his sole pursuit was his research.

We are a nationally renowned
centre of musicology.

- Have you received threats?
- Threats?

- What sort?
- By terrorists, for example.

- You think...
- I don't think anything.

- Answer the question.
- No. No, of course not.

- What was Guillaume researching?
- Guido d'Arezzo.

An 11th-century Benedictine monk.

He invented musical notation and
gave names to the notes of the scale.

Could he have made
a dangerous discovery?

- Are you serious?
- Yes. You know his past.

And you, Father?

I assume you've asked
the others if they saw anything?

No one saw anything.
Everything happened outside.

- Don't try to accuse us, Commissioner.
- I'm not.

Why might someone burn his left hand?

No idea.

Can I see your research centre?

Of course.

- There's no day of mourning, I see.
- Time is unchanging.

Such is Cistercian monastic life.

Where is Guillaume's desk?

Over there.

Was Guillaume at lunch yesterday?

I believe so, yes.

Could someone have called him
to arrange a meeting in the dunes?

- There are no mobile phones here.
- Then how did he call me?

- The office has a phone.
- And no internet?

Yes, but it's only for research.

Is this it?

What's this?

Neumes.

Ancestors of modern musical notes.

Guillaume was researching
the origins of notation.

Sorry, Father, but I need to
confiscate the hard drive.

- Impossible.
- Sorry?

Nothing leaves the monastery.
It's tradition.

I'll remind you,
this is a murder investigation.

It's non-negotiable.

That's not a term in my vocabulary.

All it means is I have to come back
with police and paperwork.

What a shame.

Hi.

Where are you?

OK. See you there.
It's nice here. You'll like it.

See you soon.

REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE

The prosecutor called.

He's put you on the case with me.

Who are you, Niémans?

I belong to a new office
with EU jurisdiction.

I see.

And what is the purpose
of this office?

To help out on cases like this.

Have you made any progress?

A team is questioning the monks.
They haven't said much yet.

Have you checked neighbours,
psychiatric hospitals, prison releases?

The monastery is completely isolated.
The rest is in progress.

And the jihadist angle,
have you thought of that?

No. I confess, I hadn't.

We've never had anything
like that around here.

But I'll check it out.

- What do you have on Jean-Louis?
- Not much at the moment.

No mobile phone, no bank account,
no social security number.

As far as society's concerned,
he didn't exist.

The monks work on the internet.

We need to get Jean-Louis' hard drive.
Anselme wouldn't give it to me.

OK. But we have to
go easy on the monks.

The Archbishop
already called the prosecutor.

Right.

One last thing.

Before Jean-Louis became
a monk, he was a cop.

He had some trouble,
if you know what I mean.

Call Internal Affairs
and ask for his file.

Thanks for telling me this now.

- Where are you going?
- To pick up my deputy.

- You have a deputy too?
- Yes. Two for the price of one.

Lucky me.

- Have a good day.
- You too.

We have to go back to the monastery.

Today.

- Long journey?
- Sorry, Niémans.

It was chaos.
I took the first train I could.

I thought you said I'd like it here.

Just wait until tonight.
You'll love it.

How many times was he stabbed?

It seems once was enough.

It was a deep cut.

A hunting knife? Combat knife?

Or even a kitchen knife.

The wound measures
about 12 centimetres.

It probably perforated his liver,
stomach, maybe even the spleen.

If you'll allow me to speculate,

I'd say the killer knew
what he was doing.

You think he had medical knowledge?

Or maybe he was a hunter.

We can smoke in here?

Nobody's ever complained.

- What about the hand?
- It was probably burned with petrol.

We're waiting on the analyses
for confirmation.

What are the other marks?

It seems our friend practiced
mortification, flagellation,

scarification.

I don't know what he was atoning for,
but it seems prayer wasn't enough.

Did you know him well?

I met him 20 years ago
at Research and Intervention.

We were fairly close back then.

From cop to monk.

- That's one hell of a switch.
- He was a devout Catholic.

Then he found out his wife
was having an affair.

- He lost it, killed them both.
- Shit.

Then he disappeared
into the monastery.

Back then,
I almost went with him.

- Let's get a coffee.
- Yes.

Shit, what's he doing up there?

The tall one, I know him.
Marc Messonnier.

I put him away 8 years ago.
Violence, kidnapping and rape.

Friendly advice, Camille: forget
all the scum you meet on the job.

- It'll drive you insane.
- But how the hell is he out already?

Let it go. We're here to find out
who killed Jean-Louis.

BHP IN CONCERT

- I didn't tell Harel the full story.
- No?

No.

Jean-Louis said one thing
to me before he died:

"The sword and the snake."

I did some research last night.

They seem to be
a religious symbol of some kind.

It might have something to do
with what he was working on.

You think his research
was the motive?

- What else?
- I don't know.

Sex, cash, theft..

- Evil instinct.
- Sure.

We'll leave that
to my girlfriend in CID.

Classy, Niémans.

Yes?

OK. We're on our way.

That's Gaillard, my crime analyst.
He's got something to show us.

Thanks, gentlemen.

- Thanks.
- Bye.

- Hi, Philippe.
- Hi, Niémans.

Gaillard was the best crime analyst
in Fort de Rosny.

- Lieutenant Delaunay, my deputy.
- Pleased to meet you.

The victim had some sort of tattoo
all over his left hand.

I think they wanted to destroy it.

Can you send us the scans
and print one for us?

Hello.

- Sabrina Harel.
- Lieutenant Delaunay.

What the hell are you all doing here?

- Your work, apparently.
- Don't piss me off, Niémans.

- What's this?
- Gaillard will explain.

- Where are you going?
- To see the monks.

To see the monks. OK.

Have a good day!

I can't decipher it,
but it looks like a manuscript.

It might mean something
to our monks.

Isn't that why we're here?

Let us pray.

I thought it would do you good
to spend time in God's presence.

Thank you so much, Niémans.

What are you doing here?
The police already took the hard drive.

This is Lieutenant
Camille Delaunay, my deputy.

I hoped we could join you
for dinner.

We've already eaten.

We follow the rules of St Benedict.
We rise with the sun.

That's not a reliable
alarm clock around here.

- Are you hoping to stay the night?
- Is that a problem?

Very well.

Stéphane?

Stéphane, please set our guests up
in the monastery guesthouse.

Of course, Father.

Stéphane will show you
to your rooms.

You'll find some
leftover food in the kitchen.

I'll warn you now,
we get up at 3am.

Follow me.

Let us pray.

We converted the fireplace room
to offer more lodging for guests.

The monks used to
come here to warm up.

Then they stored ink here
to prevent it from freezing.

But...

when central heating finally arrived,
the chimneys were knocked down

- and it was turned into a guesthouse.
- Great.

- Do you have internet here?
- Yes.

You can connect to the Wi-Fi.
It's only for guests.

Password: Jesus.

Are you also a researcher?

I study Greek musical treatise
and early Christian music.

Christians thought
the most advanced Greeks

already understood the imminence
of Christ's revelations.

You should read
De Institutione Musica by Boethius.

I'll be sure to.

Do you recognise this?

Yes, of course.
It's the Guidonian hand.

- The what?
- Guido d'Arezzo.

He invented a way
to read music using the hand.

In the 11th century,
there were no scores.

How does it work?

Well, basically, each joint
corresponds to the pitch of a note.

Then the spaces and lines
serve as musical staves.

Then you read the score off
your fingers. So, as a basic example:

la, sol, fa, mi, re, ut,

ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la.

There you have it.

- It's basic, but...
- Right.

- So this hand shows a melody?
- Absolutely.

- And you can decipher it?
- Well...

I'm no expert on this period.
Also, some elements are missing.

But I can find some books
for you tomorrow.

- I'm also in charge of the library.
- Maybe.

May I ask where you found that?

No, you may not.

Brother Stéphane,
can you show me my room?

Of course.

Shall we eat?

- Well, there's pasta.
- That's fine.

- Can you set the table?
- Let's see.

I found something interesting online.

Marc Messonnier,

the rapist I busted
8 years ago.

He got out a year ago.

He formed BHP shortly after.

They're touring around the north
of the country right now.

I checked to see whether any rapes
had been reported.

-And?
- Nothing.

But girls have been disappearing.

- Disappearing how?
- It's weird.

Each time the girl is found
24 hours later, unharmed.

They remember nothing.
Probably drugged.

- How old are they?
- 16 to 17.

They were all virgins
and remain so.

OK, check it out.
But the priority's still the monks.

- Thank you.
- Don't mention it.

This pasta is inedible.

Damn monks.

They don't even know
how to cook.

We'd better get some sleep.

They'll wake us at 3am
with their dumb prayers.

- I'm exhausted.
- You know what?

I'm so lucky to have you, Niémans.

I don't know about that.

What do you want?

Your car keys.

I'm not tired.

Oh, it's you.

Yes, it's me.

Does your offer still stand?

- What offer?
- The library books.

- How many books do you have here?
- Oh, over 5,000.

But most are stored
in a secure location

in the crypts of the monastery.

Here we are!

There are many rare manuscripts.

We also have
some unique musical scores.

And more than ten centuries
of music history.

It's a wonderful collection.

Do you fill out a form
when you borrow a book?

Oh yes, and the rules are strict.

All books are consulted
in the reading room

and then put back
in the secure room. If applicable.

Are there cameras?

Why would there be?
The library's only used by monks.

- We wouldn't spy on ourselves.
- Sure.

Is there a particular book
you'd like to consult?

No. I need to see
Brother Guillaume's library records.

- I'll bring them right away.
- Thank you.

What is it?

Would you mind continuing
your reading in your room?

It's just...

I have to get up in 2 hours.

Of course.

Excuse me.

That's very kind.

What are you doing?

Niémans!

Niémans!

What the hell is all this?

- What was his name?
- Jean.

- Was he conducting research too?
- Yes, on Ars nova.

The first polyphonic masses
of the 14th century.

- Was it connected to Guillaume's work?
- Not at all. Four centuries apart.

These songs and centuries
are boring me, Father.

- I need a link.
- Niémans!

He has the same stomach wound.
He was dead before they hanged him.

It's clearly staged.

Whoever did this
wants to scare the monks.

I'd say it's worked.

Have you found anything?

One of the back doors
was forced open.

I think it was a group effort.

One was in the scriptorium
while others set the scene.

- Could it be a monk?
- What are you saying?

It's plausible, Father.

Can we question
all the occupants of the monastery?

Of course.

Thank you.

Come on, Father.

- What have you found?
- Not much.

Prints everywhere,
but probably the monks'.

We'll lift them just to check.

- I'd like to see them.
- Sorry?

It doesn't matter.

- Any sign of a struggle?
- No.

I'd say he was dragged here.

We'll keep sweeping the scene.

Can you accompany the body to the
morgue? I need a scan of the hand.

I bet he had a tattoo
like Brother Guillaume's.

I have to go. The mayor says
his daughter's disappeared.

What?

She was at a rock gig
and never came home. He's worried.

Was the rock group BHP?

Yes.

How do you know that?

It's Messonnier, Niémans.
I know it.

She was there.
It must have happened afterwards.

There may be another explanation.

- We'll talk to the parents first.
- The two cases are connected.

Messonnier has a sword and a snake
tattooed on his forearm.

He must have got it in jail.
It wasn't there before.

It can't be a coincidence.

It's possible, but it's not enough.

- Good evening.
- Good evening.

Lieutenant Delaunay
and Commissioner Niémans.

Please find her!

Charles.

- Good evening, Mr Mayor.
- Well?

I understand you think
this is more than just a runaway?

You don't know my daughter.
She's very sensible.

- We could have gone, too.
- Enough.

Honestly, what do you have?

Honestly, it's too early to launch a...

She was at a BHP concert.

A band that encourages its fans
to burn houses like yours.

The singer had a serious run-in
with the law 8 years ago.

Don't be alarmed.
These are only theories.

- We'll start by questioning...
- Who are you?

Commissioner Niémans and
Lieutenant Delaunay from the CBCO.

I'm asking you to find my daughter.

- Can we see her room?
- Of course.

What the hell was that?

Why wasn't I informed?

You should've talked to me
before opening your mouth like that.

Lieutenant Delaunay may have
spoken hastily, but she's right.

- We must find these band members.
- Do what you want.

But you share
all info with me. Period.

We have an APB on Marie Vidal.
17, red hair, brown eyes...

Yes?

Can you send all this
to my mobile? Thanks, bye.

It's Gaillard.
He scanned the second hand.

He has the same kind of signs
under the burns as Jean-Louis.

We really need to find someone
who can decipher it.

Jean-Louis was the specialist.

Go to the monastery and get everything
they have on the hanged man.

History, origins, family.

I'll go see my buddy,
Father Anselme.

I don't know what this is.
I've never seen it.

Don't mess with me, Father.
This is Guidonian's hand.

Yes, but I've never seen this tattoo.

Two of your brothers had this tattoo.
And you didn't know?

Tattoos are against
biblical teachings.

There's a very clear
passage in Leviticus:

"You shall not make marks
upon your flesh."

Were Jean and Guillaume close?

- We're all brothers.
- That's not my question.

Were they plotting something?

- We are men of faith.
- Look, Father.

Two bodies in 2 days
put us above this rhetoric, no?

- What were they hiding?
- I don't know.

I'll ask again: have you noticed
anything suspicious recently?

I'll answer again: no.

ADMISSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS

Here it is.

It's terrifying how Brother Jean
was murdered.

According to the register,
his secular name was Claude Gaymard.

He was born in 1962 in Amagney,
in the Besançon region.

Is that all?

We ask for very little
factual information.

They start a new life here.

OK.

May I sit here?

Of course.

GENEVIÈVE BARAK HAÏM
THE BIBLE AND MUSIC

Room service.

Homemade cabbage soup.

- It's all I could find.
- Thanks.

- How's it going?
- It's not.

- Any news on the mayor's girl?
- No, nothing.

We checked her computer
and phone records.

Police are conducting door-to-doors.
They even put out an APB.

- And the BHP guys?
- They have an airtight alibi.

They were at the hotel.

What about the monks' questioning?

Absolutely nothing.
A waste of a night.

But I did find something
in the library.

Jean-Louis and the hanged man

borrowed the same book
dozens of times.

It has nothing to do
with their research.

- What book?
- Oh I don't know...

Bibles and Canticles or something,
by Geneviève Barak Haïm.

- Sounds exciting.
- It's not. I can tell you.

Yes?

Right.

OK.

It's Gaillard,
he's got something for us.

What have you got?

I lifted prints from all
the flammable products I could find.

This one has recent prints from
Brother Guillaume and Brother Jean.

- So what?
- Isn't it obvious?

They set their own hands on fire.

Then, being very well-behaved monks,
they put the can back in the shed.

Over here!

Benedic mihi pater

quia peccavi

mea culpa

mea culpa

maxima culpa

mea culpa, mea culpa,
maxima culpa!

I'm not afraid of man's justice.

I will answer for my crimes
before God.

Before God.

Before God!

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