What did they say? - l'm suspended.
Rightly so. The case is much too big for you.
You've only seen some of the interests at stake. Think of your family.
Hello, Dad? Why do you keep bothering us? You bastard!
Sofie, darling, hang up.
Look at the names. Minister, State Secretary.
All the secrets are now in the wrong hands.
lf this is used, the country won't survive.
Thanks to our friend the Public Prosecutor
there won't be an investigation.
How far can Persigal be trusted?
He is well aware of who he has to thank for his appointment. Us.
You mean the 66 know each other. - They meet once a month.
lt's a sort of... - l'm home early, darling.
Add up the millions they left behind.
lf they don't want that, what do they want from the 66 ?
Their balls. Their soul.
MR P. LARlDON MlNlSTER OF THE lNTERlOR
What do you want?
You can't ask me to do that.
Where are you? - l can't tell you.
Think of your daughter for a moment
and what she's going through cos you want to save the world.
His family is his weak spot. Should we apply some pressure?
l've been expecting you.
lf there's a stink, you're always nearby.
You in bed with your best friend's wife.
What do you want?
Bring him to us or we'll grab his daughter.
l said stop, dammit!
l can't see them anymore.
Where are they? - Get back in, give yourself up.
Where are they, dammit?
A kilometre down the road.
Bloody hell!
They asked me... - Shut your mouth!
lf l don't bring you in, they'll grab Sofie.
How do you know? - l used to be a member of P9.
l know their nasty tricks. - Run.
They'll catch you anyway. - Run! Get out of my sight!
Don't take the risk.
Think of Sofie.
BROTHER VlCTOR
Dear Brother Victor. May l ask you to keep this envelope for me?
l'll come and collect it as soon as l can.
Thank you. Paul Gerardi.
APRlL '44
Said Louis, laughing.
''A guilty conscience, l see,'' said Louis, laughing.
Sofie? Where is Sofie? Sofie Gerardi. - With the headmistress. They went...
Dammit!
Where's my daughter?
Gone with your two colleagues. - Two colleagues?
They collected Sofie on your behalf. - Shit! Shit!
Bloody hell!
Sofie! - Dad?
Stay there, Paul. - Let my daughter go.
Tell him to let my daughter go. - Stay there. Stay there.
Put your gun down. Or l'll bloody blow your head off!
Put your gun down slowly and slide it towards me.
What kind of father are you? Endangering your own daughter like that.
ls it really worth that?
What do you want from me?
Nothing.
You come with us and your daughter goes home.
l want to call my wife first. - Always stating your conditions, eh?
ls that everything? - Yes.
Come on.
Sweetheart, don't worry. Tell Mum l'll be home this evening. OK?
lt's alright, Dad. lt doesn't matter.
Did you need to use violence? Good. Bring him in.
And the child? ls the child safe?
Right. That's good.
Hey, hey, what are you up to? Eh? Hey, hey! No, don't... Bloody hell!
Good morning. lt's me. How are you?
Fine, thank you.
l paid 300 ,000 euro into Zurich Cantonal Bank on Monday.
So l saw. l'm just back from Switzerland. Thanks.
You're welcome. Who's already received his message?
Senator Rasenberg, Dirckxen and the Minister of the lnterior, Laridon.
l called him from Zurich last night. - How did he react?
Right. The first thing l want now are all the original documents.
We'll do what we agreed.
lt's still a bit too soon for you to come here. Speak to you later.
l'll try to get hold of my husband and l'll let you know.
Thank you very much. - You're welcome.
Thank you. - Goodbye.
Are you alright?
l think we need to talk, darling.
You can be honest with me.
Did they hurt you? Did they threaten you?
Tell me, darling. l'm not going be cross with Daddy.
They took him with them.
And we're just sitting here, doing nothing.
They're his colleagues, darling. - D'you hear what you're saying?
Look, Dad asked us to wait and that's what we're going to do. OK?
Hey. l love him too, you know.
Do you? So why did you leave us two years ago?
To go on holiday... Three weeks, Mum.
Do you really think your father is a saint? That he's Mr Perfect?
We were going through a difficult patch at the time.
Was there someone else? - No. Of course not.
l just hate him being gone all the time. But that's the way l am.
Hey.
Come on.
Good afternoon. There is only one headline in the lunchtime news,
the unexpected resignation and disappearance
of the Minister of the lnterior, Pierre Laridon.
The reason for the minister's resignation is unclear.
ln addition, Laridon disappeared without a trace this morning.
ln the world of politics this came as a bombshell.
Yolande. - Yes, sir?
Pierre Laridon, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, plays a key role...
Public Prosecutor Persigal's office.
... one of the most powerful men in the country.
But the reason or reasons for his resignation are as yet unknown.
After the cabinet meeting
neither the Prime Minister nor the other Deputy Prime Ministers gave a statement.
And the Deputy Prime Minister in question, Pierre Laridon,
has since disappeared without a trace, without communicating with anyone.
This morning's inner cabinet meeting was dominated by the crisis...
The Minister for Justice wants to see you urgently.
Here.
Confusion and disbelief
prevail at the political heart of the country.
There is no obvious reason for his resignation.
Laridon was not embroiled in any political rows, had no health problems,
nor can any reason be found in his private life.
Even though we are used to the ups and downs of Belgian politics, the...
MlNlSTRY OF JUSTlCE
He left his letter of resignation at the PM's office before 8 this morning.
He was unshaven, wasn't wearing a jacket or tie.
He had thrown up and he stank. lt must have been awful.
Where is he now? - l've just called Mia, his wife.
And?
She thinks he received threats in the post.
What makes her think that?
He was still in his study at one in the morning
with an envelope that'd come by post that morning. He was just sitting there.
She couldn't get a word out of him. - Has the envelope been found?
That's number one of the 66 .
Number two, Armand.
Here.
Major General Roose. l've still got good contacts at Defence.
He committed suicide Monday morning at 10 :43
in his office at General Headquarters.
He'd received a phone call three minutes earlier.
The number's been checked. - From Jonkhere Bank.
Probably to tell him his safe had been broken into.
Who knows what seedy secrets were in it? - l'm not interested in that, Armand.
Who's behind it? That's what l want to know. And why?
Christ!
Does anyone know about those safes? ln the government?
The media? - No.
No?
What's happening about Gerardi? - We've got him.
Thank God.
What will you do with him?
Armand?
You're one of the 66 . Your turn may still come.
l'll deal with that myself. My conscience is clear.
l hope so for your sake.
l really hope so.
Persigal speaking. Has he woken up? - No, that may take a while.
l didn't take any risks.
Pulse and blood pressure are normal. - Tell me when he's able to talk.
l want to know how much he knows first. - Yes, sir.
Right.
l'll be straight back.
You're the bloody Public Prosecutor. You must know something.
Who wants to destroy Salamander?
l've hushed three deaths up for you.
lt's time you did something. - And l've got Paul Gerardi.
What?
What are you planning to do with him? - No comment.
That problem needs sorting.
lf you don't do your dirty work l will.
Let's get this clear, Gerardi is mine.
Armand,
we put you where you are.
You got there thanks to our political support.
And now you're going to do what l say.
l've ensured your mess doesn't become public knowledge.
Not for you, but for the country. That's all l'm doing. That's it.
We will force you if necessary.
l'd like to see you try.
We've lost him.
We've bloody lost him.
Maybe we can... - No.
He took advantage of us and now he's deserting us.
He's nothing but a coward.
A government parasite.
Bloody hell...
Shit. Dammit!
This is the safest place for you to be, l can assure you.
Here.
This'll help with the headache.
Can you speak?
Not to you.
l thought you might want to know how your family is.
Here.
Put your mind at ease.
Darling, it's Dad. Everything's fine. l went and fetched her.
When are you coming home? Where are you?
l can't tell you yet,
but l won't be gone much longer. lt's almost over.
You really are safe now, darling.
Paul, what's going on? Honestly.
lt's almost over, darling. l won't be gone much longer. l promise.
Everything will be fine.
You're not making things easy for us.
Sorry, darling.
You didn't even ask how he was, Mum.
Sofie.
The Minister of the lnterior's disappearance still remains unexplained.
His wife has now involved the police.
lf Pierre Laridon does not surface tomorrow,
it will be regarded as a disturbing disappearance. ln ltaly...
You're home early. - Yes, there's a crisis.
Has anyone heard from Laridon? - No.
lt's terrible, eh? What do you think it means?
l've no idea. ls there any coffee left? l'd like some.
Sandra, is there any coffee left?
No. - Could you make some?
Now? - Yes, now, please.
Do we bank with Jonkhere Bank? - Jonkhere Bank?
Oh, this. No, no. No, no. Of course not. No, no.
No, l once asked Raymond
for an investment simulation. But it turned out not to be worth it.
So no, we're not with Jonkhere Bank.
You don't look too good, Guy.
Yes, l... l don't feel too good either.
lt's been quite a difficult day today and...
l'd like to be left alone for a while, darling, if you don't mind.
OK.
You're an angel.
Guy Rasenberg speaking.
Guy, it's Antoine. He's done something stupid again.
Who? - The prince, of course.
lt's always the prince. What is it this time?
l need 5,000 euros urgently to hush it all up before the scandal breaks.
Another woman, l suppose? - Yes. What else?
l've phoned Jonkhere, we can use his bank.
l'm fed up with the prince. - lt's about the Royal Family.
l have to protect the court. Otherwise...
Antoine Ostmeyer. To whom am l speaking?
Yes, Guy. Go on. Tell me.
What?
Yes, l'm still here.
What does it mean? - What it means?
You recorded all our conversations, you bastard.
And you kept them in your safe.
Now everything has fallen into the wrong hands.
l've been sent it all in the post.
You need to understand my position. - Understand your position...
l've always gone along with your little schemes.
l've hushed up all the prince's stupid affairs and all the rest.
What? No, l don't know who is behind all this.
But meanwhile my safe and your safe at Jonkhere are empty.
Yes.
We will soon find out what they want from us.
But remember this, Antoine. l'm not like Pierre. l'm not running away.
They won't get me. l will go down fighting. Hard.
Are you OK?
Would you like a shower?
You can have one.
Come on, stand up. Stand up.
But don't expect luxury.
Through here on the right.
Are you going to stay there?
Pervert.
Here.
l thought you were hungry?
Are you nervous?
Who's that in the photo?
What photo? l don't know what you're talking about.
ln politics for so long and so bad at lying!
l've got a meeting.
Who's the woman in the photo? - What woman?
Forget it.
l won't be home till late.
Here.
Tidy yourself up a bit. You're about to have an important visitor.
lt was your idea, wasn't it?
Grabbing my daughter.
lt's not personal, Paul.
Leave my family alone.
Try it again and l'll kill you.
With these hands.
Leave it, leave it. l want to know what she does.
Every step. - OK.
Good evening. Could l speak to Chief lnspector Paul Gerardi, please?
Could you tell me what it's about first, madam? Right.
And your name and address are?
Rasenberg.
No, no. l'm sorry. Paul Gerardi no longer works here.
Goodbye.
Karen Rasenberg. The senator's wife?
What happens now?
Thank you.
Persigal speaking.
Yes, Commissioner?
Senator Rasenberg's wife?
That's right, yes. Gerardi went to the house.
Fine. Thanks. Keep me informed.
My name is Persigal. l'm the Public Prosecutor.
l assume you've heard of me? - Of course.
You're the cowardly bastard who's been terrorising my wife and child.
l'm sorry it had to be like that.
l really mean that.
l hear you get on very well with Mrs Rasenberg.
We'll talk about that later.
You've caused us real problems. We suspend you
and you still don't do as you're asked.
To be honest, Mr Gerardi, what do you think this is all about?
Three people who lost their lives to save your skin.
You've got a conscience. lt does you credit.
Plus the hide of 66 other friends who also have a safe at Jonkhere.
l want the perpetrators as much as you.
And your brother is the Pope, l suppose? - Stop the sarcasm, please.
We need to know who's behind this.
Knowledge of what was in those safes could be used to destroy the country.
lt could even be our own Security Service.
Or criminals, terrorists, secret services like the ClA. A multinational.
Anyone who has a reason to want total disruption of our country.
That's what l'm thinking of, Mr Gerardi.
l love this country and it's my duty to protect it.
lf necessary using methods l personally detest.
You're not telling me everything.
l want to ask you a favour.
You want me to work for you? - Yes. Very discreetly.
You already know too much and are very good.
What if l don't want to?
l'm giving you a chance.
You carry on looking for those behind this with my people and my backing.
You involved my family.
You had my daughter abducted. What'll happen to me if l find out who it is?
Then l really will know too much.
Who can guarantee that l won't meet with an accident?
Or fall out of a window?
ls that your final word?
Yes.
ldiot.
You know what to do.
l'll open the door.
You must be Sofie. - Yes.
Do you remember me?
One of Dad's colleagues? - Yes. Carl Cassimon.
You've grown into a beautiful young lady.
Who is it? - One of Dad's colleagues.
Carl, what are you doing here?
Come in.
Wow.
You've no idea how pleased l am to see you.
Hey. What are you doing here?
Paul came to see me. - He came to see you? Why?
Well... He stole a car from the monastery.
l'm with a colleague. We're looking for him.
What happened?
Come in, come on. l'll clean that up. Come in.
Sorry.
OK? - Yes, that's OK.
Thanks.
Did Paul say anything about me?
He still loves you very much. - Right.
Come on. His family means the world to him.
So where is he then?
Paul is a good man.
Does he know about us? - No. He doesn't know.
l... l don't want to talk about it anymore.
Cassimon, come on, don't do that. Hold me.
l...
l think it's best if l leave. Sorry.
l'm sorry. lt was stupid of me.
But l'd like to say goodbye to Sofie.
l'll go and fetch her. - OK.
Sofie?
Carl?
Her coat's gone. She's gone. - Hold on.
What's the idea, guys? Where are we going?
l asked you something.
Let me tell my family. Come on, guys.
You've had plenty of time to choose in favour of your family. Come on.
Tell me it's not true.
She left ten minutes ago. On foot.
The stupid girl!
NEXTWEEK
Mrs Gerardi? - ls there some news?
lt's OK.
Are Rasenberg's chances still good?
His safe was emptied too. Who knows what was in it.
We'll get Rasenberg when he makes his maiden speech as a minister.
Then the fireworks'll start.
What are you doing? - Who's been in my study?
That leaves 43 bastards. That's more than l thought.
l asked you who's been in my drawer.
Suicide?