[breathes shakily, swallows]
[clock ticking]
[speaking Thai]
The man was strangled.
[pathologist continues in Thai]
[Yotin translates] The woman was hit over the head with a hard object.
[pathologist continues in Thai]
There's smoke in both their lungs.
[Yotin] So the conclusion is made that they were still breathing
when they were set on fire, sir.
Monique...
Please.
Help us.
[Monique, in French] My first trip away from Quebec...
[in French] And I am surely in the most beautiful place in the world.
[in French] We met the most interesting man on the flight from Delhi.
[in French] He is French I think...
but so at ease here.
[in French] Sometimes I find him looking at me.
[in French] In a way he ought not.
[in French] And I find myself wishing that I had not come here with Jules at all.
Alain, this place is far-out.
[man] And the price you beat them down to. Cool, man.
Lucky to have found you.
Thank you, Alain.
[vehicle horn honks]
[in French] See you later, Marie-Andrée.
-He was a war photographer. -No.
-[woman] Yeah. He was in Vietnam. -[Jules] Wow.
[man] He's here to shoot a spread for Paris Match.
[man] How long have you guys been on the road for?
[Jules] We're not really on the road. It's just a two-week holiday.
[Jules retches]
[in French] Are you sure there's nothing I can do for you?
[in French] No, Marie-Andrée.
[in French] Please...
enjoy your holiday.
[in French] I insist.
[Jules vomits]
[in French] Look that way again.
[in French] To your right.
[in French] That's great.
[in French] It must have been very painful.
[in French] They said I might not walk again.
[in French] Then they didn't see the strength in you.
[in French] Forgive my impertinence.
[in French] You ought to be with someone
who sees you the way you are, Marie-Andrée.
[in French] Not the way you see yourself.
[in French] Because you are beautiful.
-Mr. Knippenberg? -Yes, Lawana?
-What is this? -The missing enclosure
containing the photographs and letters from Willem Bloem and Helena Dekker
arrived this morning.
I thought you'd like to see it
before it went to the police.
Thank you, Lawana.
[men shouting in Thai]
[man] This region suffers complex problems, Mr. Knippenberg,
and the communist insurgents don't stop at national borders.
I know I don't need to tell a diplomat of your experience
the fragility of our democracy here.
Forgive me, Major General.
These people were not revolutionaries.
They came here as guests and were killed in your country.
And we grieve for them.
Pardon me, are you saying that you won't open a case?
No. The case is open.
But our resources here are not limitless.
Then you can't investigate?
Major General...
these people were set on fire while they were still alive.
You must investigate this!
It is not for you to give me my orders, Mr. Knippenberg.
F-Forgive me. I meant no insult.
The impact such terrible atrocities would have on all those in Western Europe
who wish to visit your beautiful country...
If this killer is not found...
[both speak Thai]
[sighs] Please understand, Mr. Knippenberg,
it is not that we do not want these crimes addressed...
Of course, sir.
But perhaps, with our consent, you can continue your own enquiries.
You have made admirable progress so far.
But I... I'm not a policeman.
No.
[man] Heroin laboratories in Marseille and elsewhere in the south of France
have been shut down.
The end of the war in Vietnam...
leading to the increase you're seeing in heroin trafficking
from this continent to mine and yours.
Thank you, Mr. Redland.
Not for the first time, Mr. Knippenberg must apologize for his late arrival.
In this case, so late as to be almost entirely pointless.
-[attendees chuckling] -Yes. Apologies.
My appointment with the police ran over time,
-and then the traffic, of course-- -Police, Knippenberg?
Unfortunate business. Two of our young, bodies found in the city morgue.
But one for the Thai authorities now.
Yes. Although, they...
they did suggest that I continue with my enquiries.
Uh... which is quite preposterous, of course.
And not your work.
Moving on.
[insects chirp]
[downbeat song plays on stereo]
[Angela] Herman?
That's incredibly loud.
[turns down volume]
-How was your party? -Oh.
It was magical. There was dancing.
Alain Delon was there.
He refused to dance with anyone else
and invited me to his suite tonight.
Well, don't let me stop you.
This is them?
Yeah.
[Angela] Good God.
[Herman] Look here, they both wrote letters from Hong Kong
just days before they left for Bangkok.
They talk about the sights they saw, how terrible their hotel was,
and then they mention this French gem dealer
based out of Bangkok.
He helped Bloem with a ring for Miss Dekker
and then invited them to come and stay at his home with his wife.
Well, do they name this French gem dealer?
-No. -Kannika!
-[Kannika replies in Thai] -Did you read the Post today?
What, the Washington Post?
Yes, Herman, the Washington Post.
Kannika, outside...
[in Thai] The Bangkok Post is put outside.
Oh, that Post.
[in Thai] Please can you bring it?
[in Thai] Yes.
[Angela sighs]
[in Thai] Thank you.
[Angela] Everyone was talking about it. A diplomat and a bar girl.
[Herman] "Count Michel-Andre Jurion, of the Belgian Embassy
is to make himself known to the lawyers of Monsieur Alain Chartier."
-I'm sorry, Angela. I don't-- -This man Chartier is a gem dealer.
A French gem dealer.
-What? Based here? -Yes. Here in Bangkok.
[Charles, in French] My sweet Marie-Andrée.
[in French] Each day we have been apart has been torment,
but at last I will hold your body to mine.
[in French] I love you, my Marie.
[in French] Now fly to me in Bangkok and be mine.
[pilot] We will shortly be landing in Bangkok. Please return to your seats.
[Marie-Andrée, in French] My beloved Alain,
my priest tells me that a wasted life is a sin.
[in French] He understands what meeting you means
in a way my family do not.
[in French] But I say goodbye to them. And I fly to you.
[in French] Hungry for your touch and all that the next few weeks may hold.
[in French] Sending you kisses. Your Marie-Andrée.
[indistinct PA announcement]
Alain!
[in French] Give me your bag. Let's go.
[muffled speech on radio]
[Marie-Andrée, in French] A two-week holiday
has become three weeks of torment.
[in French] But I refuse to go home.
[in French] Even though he still has not shown me the intimacy I crave...
the thought of returning home to my sad bedroom
and sanctimonious relief of my parents, fills me with dread.
[Charles, in French] Can you lend me one hundred dollars?
[in French] Okay.
[sobbing]
-[vehicle horns honking] -[dogs barking]
[indistinct loudspeaker announcement]
[gasps]
[in French] His name is Frankie.
[in French] But you can change it if you like.
[in French] No. I like the name.
[in French] You're cute!
[in French] I thought you could...
wear this at the beach.
[in French] I thought we'd go for a few days.
[in French] Would you like that?
["Requiem Pur un Con" by Serge Gainsbourg]
What is it you think they say?
-[woman chuckles] -[Charles] I'll tell you.
They ask themselves what a beautiful woman like you...
is doing with a half-breed like me.
How do you know?
Because people have been saying this all my life.
Why not go over and say hello?
But you don't call yourself Marie-Andrée.
Say you're Monique.
Tell them you're a fashion model
and I'm your photographer husband.
We'll have fun. We'll make them love us.
[couple chat indistinctly]
[in French] Is this a test?
It's a game.
[woman] Maybe we should get another cocktail. What do you think?
[woman] Oh, come on. You've only had one.
Hi. Hello. What is your name?
[woman, Australian accent] I'm Viola. Nice to meet you.
I'm, uh... Monique.
Er, my... my husband Alain.
-Hi. -Hello.
[Viola] Oh, cute dog.
[man, Australian accent] No, you got to understand, Alain,
the price of oil quadrupled in under a year.
Imagine what the war was costing the Yanks
with oil at twelve dollars a barrel.
There's no way they were staying in Vietnam.
[Charles] No, the ferocity of the Vietcong meant far more.
I'll show you a souvenir.
From the time I photographed the United States Army retreat from Hu.
That was a slice of aluminum,
the size of your glass.
The day he gave up military campaigns
for fashion campaigns was a great relief,
I'm telling you, you know?
[chuckles]
-[Viola groans] -Viola? Are you all right?
[groans] Excuse me.
[man] Guys, will you give me a minute?
-Is she okay? -[man] I'll go and see now.
Viola, sweetheart. Can I help?
[in French] Shouldn't we help her?
I'm sure she'll be fine.
[Charles, in French] To Monique.
-[both chuckling] -[Marie-Andrée] Monique.
[Marie-Andrée, in French] Isn't it late to visit?
[Charles, in French] Lock the door.
[in French] The door. The door.
[in French] Curtains too.
[in French] Are they dead?
[in French] No, they are not dead.
[in French] Did you do this?
They're only rich assholes.
And when they wake up in the morning, they will still be rich assholes.
They don't merit your concern.
Oil Politics. What does he know?
All he does is recite what he's read in a fucking book.
[sighs]
[Herman] You will be handling this problem, correct?
Tell me what this is.
Tell me why I should, Cloggy.
My two murdered Dutch.
I have letters they wrote home
in which they both describe meeting a French gem dealer
based out of Bangkok.
He invited them to come and stay at his home here.
So if this Chartier is the same gem dealer,
he might know what happened to them.
You've taken the cops up on their offer, then?
Does your ambassador know?
He's been nothing but encouraging.
I'll bet. Ha! Pay for my lunch, Herman.
Excuse me?
I can't take you to meet this gem dealer,
but if I'm taking you to meet Jurion, you're paying for my lunch.
I have my driver. He can take us.
No. Send him away.
Why?
Because you don't want him seeing where I'm taking you.
[Thai pop song plays]
[bar girls chatter excitedly]
[Siemons] Come on, Cloggy.
The gem dealer is suing Jurion,
one of our Belgian attachés.
It was just a stupid fight over a bar girl.
So we go looking for dirt on him to make him back down. You understand?
Anyway, Jurion hears this crazy story.
[bar girl] Thank you. Bye-bye.
[in French] Showing tourists around, Siemons?
-Ippenberg. From the Dutch. -You say Knip--
I know how you say it, Herman. It's just easier that way.
He shares an interest in your gem dealer.
-Alain Chartier. -Hi.
-[bar girl] Do you want girl? -[Herman] No. Thank you.
-Go on. -Two murdered Dutch.
They wrote of meeting a French gem dealer here in Bangkok.
He invited them to his house.
Well, then it is true. Just like I told you, Siemons.
What is true?
-Tell him. -[sighs]
A French woman, two months back in December,
very frightened, is doing the rounds of the embassies,
looking for help, making accusations, wild accusations,
against a French gem dealer with an apartment near here in Patpong.
What... What were these accusations, Paul?
-Drugging and robbery. -And murder?
-Yes. -Of who?
Of some young longhairs who'd been persuaded
back to the gem dealer's apartment.
And you didn't think it fit to tell me?
My two Dutch were burnt alive, for Christ's sake!
[Siemons] You know how it works, Herman.
Belgium's interests have to be confidential.
You mean this lecher's reputation was at stake?
Hey. I'm not a lecher.
So?
What happened?
Nothing.
Nothing?
No one did anything?
I suppose you find this story encouraging?
This man Chartier, this enemy you've made,
he won't be able to slander you
if the Thais prosecute him for murder?
Well, he won't.
And you think to yourself,
"How many French gem dealers can there be in Bangkok?"
-Precisely. -Well, I'll tell you.
There are at least two of them.
If this man Chartier was the killer, he'd have to be some kind of fool
to openly publish his name over a row with a degenerate Belgian!
-Hey-- -Which makes you fools as well.
Cloggy... Herman, look... Wait, where are you going?
Where you should have gone immediately:
to find that woman.
I just hope no harm has come to her.
[man speaks Thai]
[Charles replies in Thai]
[in French] Have you ever been a photographer?
I have been a photographer.
Just as you have been a fashion model.
Alain.
[in French] Is that your name?
[in French] Yes, Alain...
[in French] Just as you are Monique.
[in French] And as I am Marie-Andrée?
I am Charles.
You know, at Dal Lake...
he was not even my boyfriend.
Jules, I mean.
We were engaged before.
But I broke it off.
There was nobody else who wanted to go on holiday with me.
Nobody wanted to do anything with me.
All you needed to do was...
ask.
Me...
I mean.
Ask?
From the age of 15...
there was no one and nothing that wanted me.
I was denied everything.
Not even allowed to be a member of a country.
No passport, no papers.
All my life.
So if I'd waited for the world to come to me...
I'd be waiting still.
Everything I ever wanted...
I had to take it.
["69 Année Erotique" by Serge Gainsbourg]
-[man grunts] -[onlookers gasp]
[retching]
[in French] See, on my balcony?
[in French] My husband Remi's chef's whites.
[in French] He leaves them there so the sweat dries in the sun.
[in French] I bet Alain doesn't leave his pants out to dry.
[in French] Where did you two meet?
Uh...
Lake Dal.
[in French] I was doing a fashion shoot.
[in French] That's so romantic.
[women continue chatting in French]
[in French] It's Alain.
[in French] Mind the step.
[man coughs]
[speaks French]
[in French] This is Dominique.
-[in French] I met him in Chiang Mai. -[in French] Hello.
[in French] I don't know what he ate there but he's not well.
[in French] But I had to help him.
[in French] Monique, my wife.
-[in French] Nice to meet you. -Uh...
-Nadine. -Nadine.
-[in French] See you. -[Nadine replies in French]
[monkey squeals]
[Dominique chuckles]
[Charles mutters in French]
-[Marie-Andrèe speaks French] -[Charles shushes] English.
[Marie-Andrèe] Why is he here? I thought you only robbed people.
I don't want you doing housework, Marie.
Hmm? Keep him a little sick and he will do anything for you.
Hey, hey, hey.
We're rescuing him.
Hmm? That's what people will say.
That nice couple rescued that poor boy.
All right?
-[line ringing] -[man answers indistinctly]
[Herman] Hello, my name is Knippenberg.
I'm looking for a French woman.
She came to you making very specific claims.
Claims of drugging, robbery, murder even.
-[man replies indistinctly] -Of course. Thank you for your time.
-[man] Hello? -Hello, my name is Herman Knippenberg.
I'm calling in regard to a French woman.
She would have visited you in December,
just walked in off the street.
She was making very specific claims.
-About drugging, robbery, murder... -Call back another time.
Uh, could you check your records to see if she came in to see you?
[man] They're all at lunch. I'll leave a message.
Okay, no problem. Thank you so much.
-[man] Pronto? -Hello, yes, my name's Knippenberg.
I'm calling from the Dutch Embassy.
Might I speak to someone in your consular department?
I'm calling in regard to a French woman.
Yes, donna francese.
She would've visited you in December.
Sorry, yes, it's Knippenberg from the Dutch Embassy.
-[Lawana] Mr. Knippenberg? -Sorry, I will call you back.
[speaking Dutch]
Knippenberg.
[in Dutch] Hi, Mr. Ambassador.
[conversation continues in Dutch]
[phone rings]
[Lawana] Consular department.
Mr. Knippenberg?
Yes. One moment, please.
-[whispers] The British Embassy, sir. -Thank you, Lawana.
-Hello? -[man] Cartwright.
-Am I speaking to Knippenberg? -Yes, Herman Knippenberg.
Yes, I called you earlier.
I was calling regarding a French woman who came to visit you in December.
Yes, that's right.
You have a record of someone visiting you, yes?
Yep. I saw her myself.
[rock music plays]
Hi.
[laughing]
-Excuse me. -A monkey!
Oh, my God.
Who is your guest, Ajay?
Hey, I'm Teresa.
-Monique. It's her place. -Oh, um, you're the gem dealer.
I am not. He is the gem dealer.
My husband, Alain.
[in French] You don't get jealous?
[in French] It is Alain.
[in French] It is who he is.
[in French] And I don't want him any different.
[in French] I don't know how you do it.
[in French] You're too sophisticated to be Quebecois.
[in French] Shall we dance?
[Ajay sighs and groans]
Where have you been?
You've been gone all night.
Pattaya.
The girl wanted to swim. She and Ajay swam.
Will you see these cashed?
The American girl's travelers' cheques.
Don't worry. I'll fix the photograph.
But she's been here.
She can tell the police where we are.
[Ajay] No, she can't.
[Charles] You don't need to worry about this.
About any of it.
[in French] I promise you, my love.
[in French] We are safe.
Take a photograph.
For my mother.
So she can see you. See how well we're doing together.
[Herman] Did she not give you her name, Mr. Cartwright?
No. She wouldn't. She was highly agitated.
What did she tell you?
Just as you described. Allegations against this gem dealer.
-Drugging, theft-- -Murder?
-Yes. -And you didn't believe her?
It's irrelevant whether I believed her or not.
It's not within our gift to help.
Far better gone to the police.
-And? -She said that was impossible.
This Frenchman had connections with the police.
Friendships. Actually, she left something with me.
-I imagine you'd like to see it. -Yes. Please.
I don't suppose she left a contact address with you?
Somewhere that she might be found?
Oh, yes, she did. There's a slip in the back leaf.
-But no name? -Oh, no.
No. Far too frightened.
Keep it. No use to me.
This is the man whose diary this was.
Willem Bloem. He was burnt alive.
What? No, there's no need for that.
And laying next to him is his girlfriend,
Helena Dekker.
They were very much in love, I believe.
What is it you think we're here for? Hmm?
I don't mean our work. I mean, as human beings.
If it is not to have a care for one another, then what is it?
I'm sorry, I...
-[line ringing] -[Siemons, in French] Belgique.
Paul, it's Herman.
I thought you weren't talking to me, Cloggy.
Paul, I've found her, I think.
I helped him choose this.
You're Monique. I'm Suda.
Have you missed me?
Alain told me the monkey died.
How did you get in?
[footsteps approach]
[in Thai] Who is she?
[in Thai] She works for Alain.
I'm just explaining to my father
that you are Alain's secretary, right?
You are here already?
-Good. Colonel Romyen. -[speaks Thai]
If we go now, we will make the reservation.
[Suda speaks Thai]
[Charles, in French] I have no feelings for her.
[in French] Absolutely nothing.
[in French] I'm pragmatic.
[in French] Suda for her gems.
[in French] And the Colonel to protect us.
[in French] You and me and everything we do.
[in French] Please, my love.
[in French] Free your mind from jealousy and suspicion.
[in French] It's a bourgeois curse.
[in French] You are above that.
[in French] You are Monique now. Not Marie-Andrée anymore.
[rock music plays]
Hang on, I want to show you something.
Look. That's my woman Stephie and little Cleo.
She's like a life raft for me.
-She's beautiful. -So are you. [chuckles]
[funk music plays]
Hey, don't get too close.
[chuckles]
[in French] How you doing?
[in French] Going to work already?
[in French] Alas...
[partygoers gasp]
[thunder cracks]
[Marie-Andrèe, in French] He won't take his medicine.
[man groans]
[man coughs]
[man retches]
[man groans]
[man] What's wrong with me, man?
You've got to take me to the hospital, man.
[Charles] It's okay, my friend, you're safe.
I know how you suffer, but relax.
[man] I'm just really scared, man.
Monique has made you some warm condensed milk.
It relieves the stomach cramps.
-Call Stephie. Call her. -I will call her.
[Marie-Andrèe, in French] Should Monique care
about the things she fears he does?
[in French] Marie is terrified, but Monique has to stay calm.
[in French] Can I play this role forever?
[in French] Knowing all that I know?
Monique...
[in French] Where are they taking him?
[in French] The hospital.
[in French] He's very sick.
[in French] Knowing also that I have been sharing him all along?
[in French] And that I must continue to do so without complaint?
[in French] Marie-Andrée is screaming for it to stop.
[in French] But Monique...
she just cannot.
[Ajay] Look who I found.
-[Charles] Hey! -[Marie-Andrèe] Oh! Lena!
[Nadine] Whoa!
[Nadine speaks French]
[radio tuning between stations]
[continues tuning radio]
[pop song plays on radio]
[groaning]
You've been very unwell.
We've been looking after you for almost two days now.
Wim?
[Marie-Andrèe] Shh! Hey, he's sleeping.
You love him, don't you?
And he loves you.
It's like a natural instinct for him.
He doesn't have to tell you.
You just feel it.
Like the sun on your face.
[Lena] Monique...
please...
help us.
Please.
Why didn't you just do what he wanted?
You should have bought the gems, like I told you.
[Wim] Don't you touch her.
What the fuck have you done to us?
Don't. Don't, please.
[cup clatters on floor]
That was your medicine.
-Your medicine makes us sick. -[cup clatters on floor]
[Charles] What's happening here?
Monique, why haven't they drunk their medicine?
Fuck you, man.
[Lena speaks Dutch]
[both speaking Dutch]
[Ajay] Hey, Wim, relax, man. Back to bed.
[Ajay groans] Fuck, Wim, that hurt!
[Lena yells]
Monique. Monique, help me!
[Marie-Andrèe, in French] Please, Alain!
[Lena] Monique, please! Monique, help me!
-[thudding] -[Lena] Monique, please!
[French song plays on radio]
[barking]
[Lena screams]
-[muffled shouting] -[thudding]
[Siemons] Open the glove compartment.
Paul, be serious.
I'm intensely serious.
Your Dutch Reformist faith in progress has no place here.
Men are beasts.
It might not be the scared Frenchwoman who answers the door,
but the murdering Frenchman.
It's been months. She might not even be here.
If she is in there...
what then?
Have you thought about that?
You've got a good career waiting for you, Herman.
Doing sober, diligent work for your foreign ministry.
Going in there with a gun is none of those things.
I'm not going to take the gun.
I ought to tell you...
Wim Bloem's diary confirms the man's name is not Chartier.
It's Gautier. Alain Gautier.
So...
I don't think Belgium's interests will be served.
You can go home if you like.
Fuck Belgium's interests, Cloggy.
-Keep the engine running? -Mm-hmm.
[knocking on door]
My name is Herman Knippenberg!
I... I am the Third Secretary
at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Thailand.
I am searching for a woman,
a woman who has been looking for help.
[door unlocks]
[whispers in French]
[muffled shouting continues]
["Tous les Visages de L'amour" by Charles Aznavour playing]
-[breathes heavily] -[turns up volume]
-[thudding] -[muffled shouting continues]