This is Arii Poerava, also known as the Black Pearl.
This pearl ended the Franco-Tahitian War in 1847.
Its value is priceless. You're expected at Quai Branly.
Central will contact you in case of a security breach.
-Do you have your phone? -Affirmative.
-Hello? -Michael, listen carefully.
If you're already in the car, say the weather is nice.
-Who is this? -This is central.
If you're already in the car, say the weather is nice.
-The weather is nice. -Great. Michael, you are in danger.
We have good reason to believe
that your driver is working for a criminal organization.
The security protocol has been engaged.
You know the protocol. Get dropped off at Trocadéro.
Take the metro from there. It will be safer for you and the pearl.
Go south to the end of the line.
-Our agents will be waiting for you. -Okay.
Change of plans. Drop me off here, please.
No. This can't be happening!
No!
Thief!
He stole the pearl. Stop him!
Hey, there.
Hello.
Yes, I'm here.
Good dog.
A year after his spectacular stunt at the Pellegrini gala,
France's most famous burglar is nowhere to be found.
The police claim to have several leads, but an arrest has yet to be made.
His vanishing act would be impossible
without help from accomplices or a major crime network.
You're my accomplice.
…but all fingers are still pointing at Assane Diop's wife.
The fugitive's partner, who claims to know nothing,
remains the focus of both police and media attention.
Leave us alone, please!
I don't know where he is! What don't you understand?
Come on, J'accuse.
Time to go home.
-Good night. -Good night.
UNKNOWN NUMBER ORANGE UMBRELLA. IN 2 MINUTES.
Claire?
Claire, wait. I'm begging you, wait!
Let go of me, Assane! Don't touch me.
I know you're mad at me.
-I know what you're going through. -Oh, yeah?
What do you know?
You know the fear?
-The shame? The dirty looks? -Claire…
How Raoul wakes up screaming at night?
-I swear-- -Don't tell me you're sorry.
You're not sorry for any of it.
You're a selfish bastard, Assane.
Let's leave, Claire. Raoul, you, and me.
Let's leave France. Go far away, where nobody knows us.
I booked a one-way ticket for a boat leaving Marseille in 48 hours.
I just realized something.
You're actually crazy. You really are.
You think we'd leave it all to come with you?
But we'll be together.
We'll be a family.
We won't be a family.
We'll be on the run.
Do you want your son to spend his life looking over his shoulder?
-You really want to make things right? -I would do anything.
Well…
Then turn yourself in.
It's the only way.
That's what I thought.
You're not a hero, Assane.
You're a coward.
What were you expecting?
For her to pack her bags and follow you blindly?
I hoped she'd be glad to see me at least.
Assane, can you imagine what she's been through this past year?
The cops questioning her, reporters harassing her…
-It's hell. -I know.
Look, she's on every front page this week.
I know, Ben.
Okay.
So what now?
I have a plan.
But it's tricky.
-Very tricky. Dangerous, even. -On a scale from one to ten, how bad?
A solid 12.
It's a big stunt.
The stunt.
Of course.
And it starts with this.
The Black Pearl.
Thief!
Police!
Police! Stop him, please!
Out of the way!
-Don't move. -Wait, guys…
Stop, I'm with the force.
Nice try, but that's my badge.
Come on, let's take him in.
My one failure.
You know I can't end on a bad note.
Don't make the same mistake twice.
If I have to vanish, I may as well go out with a bang.
You bastard.
WANTED: ASSANE DIOP
Hero or criminal? France is still making up its mind about Assane Diop.
He's been spotted in various locales throughout the country.
People have completely lost it!
He's been on our front page for months. No one knows where he is.
There's no story. Nothing. It's…
-It's just insane. -It's not insane, it's mysterious.
And that's what readers like.
Franck, she's just trying to make herself look good. It's obvious.
You're jealous you haven't had a front page story in three months.
You know what I see?
I see two journalists fighting each other.
And I like that a lot.
But you know the rule. If you don't like my headline, find me a better one.
Have a nice day, madam.
Goodbye.
Your helmet, please.
-I'm just here to deliver a letter. -Yes. Your helmet, please.
There.
-Are you okay, madam? -You…
You look a lot like him.
Oh, that guy?
Don't get me started.
That dude is ruining my life. I'm sick of it. It happens every day!
Now you too. I'm sick of it.
Luckily, I'm better looking.
My only defense is that my eyes are a different color.
What color are my eyes?
-Brown? -That's right.
That's what's saving me. Otherwise, I'd be in jail for life.
-Your signature, please. -Yes, of course.
You're right to be cautious.
This is exactly the kind of place Assane Dop likes to rob.
No, it's Diop.
It's Diop, not Dop.
Assane Diop, that's right.
I'll remember that. My name's Michel Beaumont.
How about yours?
Elizabeth.
-Have a nice day, Elizabeth. -Goodbye.
-Thank you, sir. -You're welcome.
Mr. and Mrs. Branville. Delighted to see you again.
-How are you? -Very good.
-I'm very good. Thank you. -So…
Of course, madam.
You can count on us. It's no problem.
See you soon. Goodbye.
Goodbye.
Mr. Imbert, this is for you.
Thank you. Actually, just a moment.
I have a little something for you.
My God…
Hello. Commander Félix, Research and Intervention Brigade.
-Commander. -My men are tightening the perimeter.
-We aren't waiting for confirmation? -No, Capt. Belkacem.
A threat is like a grenade. I need to defuse it before it blows.
Major, move your men to this zone. We need to tighten the perimeter.
Okay, Commander.
"Dear Mr. Imbert,
I hope this letter finds you well
and that your hairstylist did a nice job with your Monday coloring session."
"Being robbed is an unpleasant experience,
and I find it's best to be prepared."
"Knowing that your heart and hair are fragile,
I want to spare you the shock
and give you advance warning that I plan to steal your Black Pearl."
"I will steal it at precisely 10 p.m. on the evening of Friday, December 3."
"P.S. Please excuse the slight inconvenience
and accept the assurance of my highest consideration."
"Assane Diop."
-You're sure it's from him? -He personally handed it to Mrs. Simon.
-You saw him? -Yes.
How can you be sure it was Diop?
-I presume he was in disguise. -Yes, of course.
But it was very subtle.
He was wearing colored contact lenses.
-They were brown. -Brown? But his eyes are brown.
He said his name was Michel Beaumont.
All right. Don't tell anyone about this letter.
No one can know Diop has returned.
-Understood? -Of course.
May we see the security footage?
-Can you switch to the other camera? -Of course.
There!
He's got some nerve.
He vanishes for a year, then shows up like that.
He's screwing with us.
What kind of thief invites you to his own robbery?
Go!
Defense!
Block him!
-Let's go! -Come on, Mathis!
-Hey, coach! That was a foul. -What?
That was a foul.
Stop acting like a wuss, Diop.
It was a foul. Free throw.
He's gonna miss it.
-Hey, guys! -Diop, you're gonna miss it.
You suck.
Crybaby.
Don't worry. Your father is watching, wherever he is.
Come on, guys.
Wait, I'm an idiot. He doesn't give a crap about you.
Hey, what are you doing?
Are you done yet?
It's the same thing every time.
Not my problem your parents didn't do their job.
Calm down.
Benjamin!
Hey, Assane.
What are you doing for the break?
Benjamin! Hurry up.
Paul invited me to his house in the south.
And you're gonna go? Paul's a jerk.
Our parents are friends, so I have to.
Well, then…
Have a nice break.
Assane, wait.
Wait!
Excuse me.
Assane!
You used to live in Montreuil, right? Avenue de La Résistance?
Yeah, with my father. Why?
The new tenant has been getting your mail.
-He wants you to pick it up. -It must be junk mail.
-Tell him to throw it away. -There are letters from Senegal.
-From Senegal? -Yes, letters from your family.
-Something like that. -Thank you. Thank you, sir.
Okay, that's enough.
Practice is over.
-Seriously? -Already?
Everyone's always leaving you.
We'll be waiting for you outside.
Let me guess. Diop is back?
Bingo.
-Tell me. -Calm down.
-Come on. -You're not on the case anymore.
Don't do this to me. You know this isn't just a case to me.
That's why you're here, right?
Come on. Where is he? What did he do? Tell me.
He dropped it off this morning at a jeweler's on Place Vendôme.
In person.
Yeah.
"Dear Mr. Imbert,
I hope this letter finds you well and that your hairstylist did a nice job…"
"Being robbed is an unpleasant experience…"
He's still on top of his game.
Find anything?
I'll show you.
Lupin often tells his victims when he's about to rob them.
Take the letter.
See, at the end of his letter,
he wrote "Please excuse the slight inconvenience,
and accept the assurance of my highest consideration."
"Arsène Lupin."
He's forcing us to show our hand.
-In doing so, the pearl becomes more… -Vulnerable.
Yes.
Did he leave anything else with the letter?
No.
He gave a fake name. Beaumont.
-Michel Beaumont? -How did you know?
That's his alias in The Crystal Stopper.
Why does he always make references to Lupin?
He likes taunting us.
He likes to play. That's how he is.
He's always a step ahead.
-Who knows about this letter? -Nobody.
You see this?
This is what we call a scoop! A real one.
Fleur is a real journalist.
Watch and learn.
Margaux, I want this letter on tomorrow's front page.
I don't know how you did it, but well done.
-Keep it up. -Thank you.
Nice job, Fleur!
He's back.
In a letter published this morning on the cover of The Objector,
France's most famous fugitive announced his plans to steal the Black Pearl,
a priceless gem seized during the Franco-Tahitian War in 1846.
Diop even states the time and place of his next burglary,
on December 3 at precisely 10 p.m. at Place Vendôme.
Well, Mr. Diop, if you're watching this,
thank you for giving France fair warning of your next sleight of hand.
-We'll be there. -Wow, that's great.
It's gonna be chaos.
Sylvain, I want maps, building access points,
and all video surveillance from Place Vendôme.
Cover the whole neighborhood!
Max, call the RIB commander. We're moving to high alert.
You got it.
If Diop shows up, we'll be ready.
I've heard that before.
So, we have 43 cameras.
Another one here.
Motion sensors in every room.
-How many exits? -Six. Counting the service stairwell.
-And the access codes? -One four-digit code for all the doors.
You need to change it right now.
-We change it every week. -Have you since you received the letter?
I'll change it right away.
You know what, Mr. Imbert? Maybe Assane Diop has already been here.
Maybe he's watching us now.
The threat is real, Mr. Imbert. You mustn't take this letter lightly.
Wow, this is high up.
-We're on the first floor. -The fear of heights is a nasty thing.
Okay, the closer we get to the center of the room,
the more valuable the items are.
That's why the Black Pearl is right here. Right in the middle.
It's worth more than all the others combined.
That pearl of yours needs bulletproof glass.
We've done better. Go ahead.
SURVEILLANCE - ALARMS
ACTIVATE MAIN GALLERY ALARM ACTIVATED
Touch a single one of these beams…
ALARM DEACTIVATED
It's perfect.
And my men will be all over the room.
-Oh, yeah? How many? -Just enough, Mr. Imbert.
Rest assured no one is going to touch your pearl.
France's honor is at stake.
What?
You remind me of your mother.
If he shows up tonight, we can't miss him.
I need to show you something.
I'll be back.
-Got the code? -Imbert gave it to me.
What the hell?
They're all here for Diop.
Fucking Robin Hood.
Robin Hood gave what he stole to the poor.
Diop avenges the poor.
Not this time.
No.
Major, I need you and your men.
Let's go.
Assane Diop!
Come on!
I didn't think I'd ever ask you this, but should I read the novels?
What are you talking about?
The books.
The Arsène Lupin books.
Lupin?
Never heard of it.
Guédira, I'm being serious.
Don't make me beg.
It took you long enough.
If you want to catch Diop, you need to know everything about Lupin.
-What do you want to know? -I don't know what I need.
-I'm trying to anticipate his next move. -No.
You don't get it. You can't anticipate. The guy's a con artist.
You're not helping me. Come on, think.
-Tell me how he'll go about it. -I have no idea.
He'll try to divert your attention.
There's no way with what we have in place.
He's the gentleman burglar. He always finds a way.
Unless he's already stolen it.
-What do you mean? -That would be a very Lupin thing to do.
Is this the real one?
-Of course. What kind of question is that? -Are you sure?
-No one could have exchanged it? -I don't think so.
He hasn't stolen it yet.
In 2017, a guy tried to steal it in the metro.
We got the pearl back, but the guy escaped.
The description in the file sounds like Diop.
If that's the case, it's the only time he's ever failed.
I'll ask the RIB to check everything.
Hundreds have come out in the hope of spotting France's most wanted fugitive.
If he pulls it off tonight, as he announced on social media,
we could be dealing with the most daring burglary in history.
Who are you?
Assane Diop. I'm the previous tenant.
Thanks.
"Tell Sanni I love him, but he's better off without me."
Mom…
Give me all your cash.
What's with the dorky clothes?
-Bruno! -What's the matter? Did I scare you?
I didn't know you'd gone soft.
-It's nothing. -Okay.
Hurry, we're gonna miss the game.
We won't lose the World Cup with our awesome team.
-Yeah! -Goal!
Thank you, Thierry!
Thank you!
-Hey… -Yeah?
Can I crash here? Just for a few days.
Totally.
Captain Belkacem, everything is in order.
The bars and the alarm, please.
The alarm is activated.
Let's go upstairs.
Assane Diop!
ASSANE MAKES THE 1% PAY
-If he were to run, I'd vote for him. -Even though he's a thief?
He's not the thief, they are!
All these cops for one man? They'll never catch him.
Why do you all love Assane Diop so much?
He's the voice of the people. That's why.
Assane Diop!
WHO'S NEXT?
Okay, thanks.
Everything's fine downstairs.
Ten! Nine!
Eight! Seven!
Six! Five!
Four! Three!
Two! One!
Zero!
DIOP: PLACE VENDÔME BURGLARY
Oh, no.
Get the door. The code!
We're coming.
Come on, hurry up!
Where is it?
Come on, move! The hallways. Hurry!
Come on. Go!
What happened? Where's the pearl?
Where is it?
Impossible! Take off your mask!
He can't have gone far.
But what…
But…
Look!
There!
Check the exits!
The service stairs! Check the upper levels!
-Yes? -Hurry!
There's a weird officer who knows all the codes.
He's going into my office!
-What? Are you serious? -I'm telling you!
Vidal!
Diop is upstairs. Hurry!
-There! -Come on, go!
Faster!
-It's not working! -Let me do it, you idiot!
Come on. Open the door!
Mr. Imbert, you changed the code. This isn't the time.
Assane Diop!
Diop!
All units to the courtyard door! Hurry!
You, don't move.
I said don't move!
Spread your fucking legs!
-Give me your arm! -Spread your legs.
Give me your hand!
Come on!
All units, exit through the main door.
-The Black Pearl… -My only failure.
Free Assane Diop!
He's coming!
Free Assane Diop!
THREE DAYS EARLIER
Is Bruno here?
-Can I come in? -You've got some nerve coming here.
I don't want to know what you're scheming. Go ahead.
Thank you.
Have a seat. He'll be here soon.
Hero or criminal?
France is still on the fence about Assane Diop,
the controversial figure who has monopolized public attention
since his spectacular stunt at the Pellegrini gala.
Diop was reportedly spotted…
SEARCH FOR ASSANE DIOP
…in various locations throughout France.
Let's head overseas now to Martinique…
Hello, Bruno.
I came to settle my debt.
I have an offer for you.
Here's the plan.
We'll meet tomorrow at dawn.
Place Vendôme.
You remember Benjamin Férel.
-How are you, Bruno? -Fine.
Go ahead.
The column will be the perfect hideout.
Come on.
Earpiece.
Here. For you.
Let's stay in contact. Okay?
You're up.
You're going to pose as a recently transferred RIB commander.
-Captain. Commander Félix of the RIB. -Commander.
You'll take over operations.
My men are tightening the perimeter.
We aren't waiting for confirmation?
No, Capt. Belkacem. A threat is like a grenade…
Be natural and they'll believe you.
Major, move your men to this zone. We need to tighten the perimeter.
Okay, Commander.
The bigger the lie, the more they'll buy it.
I want to know everything about their security system.
You'll be my eyes and my ears.
-Ready, Commander? -Yeah.
If you can hear me, move your badge.
Good. Go ahead.
Ask for the manager, Mr. Imbert.
We have 43 cameras. Here and here.
Motion sensors in every room.
-How many exits? -Six. Counting the service stairwell.
Now, ask for the codes.
And the access codes?
One four-digit code for all the doors.
-Change it now. -You need to change it right now.
I'll change it right away.
Tell him maybe I've already been there.
You know what, Mr. Imbert? Maybe Assane Diop has already been here.
Maybe he's watching us now. The threat is real, Mr. Imbert.
You mustn't take this letter lightly.
Now, turn around.
Shit.
Wow, this is high up.
We're on the first floor.
What an idiot.
The fear of heights is a nasty thing.
CODE CHANGED
The Black Pearl is right here.
Right in the middle.
It's worth more than all the others combined.
There are laser beams protecting it, but you're not supposed to know.
Tell him to put it behind bulletproof glass.
It needs bulletproof glass.
We've done better. Go ahead.
The more interest you show, the more he'll trust you.
Tell him that you're taking this matter personally.
Wait, I can do better.
Tell him the nation's honor is at stake.
The bigger the lie, the more they'll buy it.
It's perfect, Mr. Imbert.
And my men will be all over the room.
-Oh, yeah? How many? -Just enough, Mr. Imbert.
Rest assured no one is going to touch your pearl.
France's honor is at stake.
Care to explain why I had to send the letter to The Objector?
To fill the square with people.
The best way to notify guests is to send an invitation.
You see this? This is what we call a scoop!
I don't know how you did it, but well done. Keep it up.
Thank you.
And the TV networks. That's a lot of people.
Mr. Diop, if you're watching this,
thank you for giving France fair warning of your next sleight of hand.
We'll be there.
There are perks to being wanted.
-Major, I need you and your men. -Let's go.
Act one: we use the crowd to infiltrate the RIB squad,
with no one any the wiser.
Go!
Ten!
Nine! Eight!
Seven!
Six!
Five!
Four! Three!
Two! One!
Zero!
What happened? Where's the pearl?
I don't know, Captain.
Find him! Take off your mask!
Shit! He can't have gone far.
Act two: we get away.
With the right code,
you can open any door.
If you don't want unexpected visitors…
CHANGE CODE
…you change the code.
-What are you waiting for? -I'm not a technician!
I have no idea why it's not working!
I'll be at the meeting spot in two minutes.
Mr. Imbert, you changed the code. This isn't the time.
And for act three…
You, don't move!
I said don't move!
Spread your legs! Give me your hand!
We go out in style.
That's good.
Through the main door.
Free Assane Diop!
The crowd that helped us get in will keep the police occupied.
They saw us, but they didn't look at us.
You know how it goes.
We bow for the crowd.
And the curtain closes.
Assane!
You're truly insane, Assane.
-I can't believe we pulled it off! -We're all clear, guys.
I transferred the money, Bruno. Your sister can stop hating me.
She'll be happy to never see you again.
This is your stop.
Meet me you know where.
Individual spotted on the roofs near Place Vendôme.
Wait, it's Assane Diop.
We lost track of the vehicle he got into. It must be him.
He's getting away. I'm losing him.
We're sending backup.
Somebody just fell!
Subtitle translation by: Emily Moorlach