Original subtitles

This series is fictional, loosely based on reality TV.

People, events, places, and dialogues may have been invented,

modified or recreated to express the authors' artistic vision.

SATURDAY APRIL 28TH 2001 11:48 P.M.

Yes, Isabelle?

I'm coming. Are they still in the pool?

They all left. There's just Steevy hanging around.

-Okay. Send him to the confessional. -Vale.

Karim for Elena.

-What? -Come handle Steevy in the confessional.

I'm eating.

Just go, keep him there as long as you can.

Do you know their name in French? Trou normand!

-Raphael, Isabelle's on the line. -Put TPS on.

Okay.

Excuse me.

-You have to see it. -Exceptional.

Do you see them?

-What's going on? -Call Philippe.

I'll call you back.

What is it? They'll get offended.

Look.

Jean-Édouard and Loana.

Thanks. I'll call you, okay?

-Good evening. -Evening.

Hello?

-Are they... -They are.

We're gonna have to change the pool water.

FOUR MONTHS EARLIER DECEMBER 2000

-Boom! -How did you do that? I was winning.

The window.

-You can do that? -If there's no other option, yes.

One more, I'll destroy you.

Break's over, we're waiting for you.

Why?

Why is he always so mad?

-Philippe Palazzo Productions, hello. -Any news about Philippe?

No.

-Have you seen him? -No.

Has anyone seen Philippe today?

-No. -Raphael?

-I've signed it, it's on your desk. -I need two signatures.

-Then help me find Philippe. -I have another problem.

We're still in the red. The bank has rejected the loan.

Remove the expenses for sets,

put them in assets, we'll be up by 63k.

No, wait.

Up by 63k.

We've got pictures of Guy Richie and Madonna's wedding.

-For Wednesday? -Yes.

And we got an exclusive on Roch Voisine's Christmas.

I have an idea.

Models speaking out about sexual abuse.

That's very interesting.

No, I don't want any problems with model agencies in Paris.

Are you thinking about a new career?

Your cheekbones aren't right.

I think it's a good idea. Even models can have problems.

-It's relatable. -Thank you.

We don't care if the public can relate.

-Do you get to decide alone? -Yes, actually.

-I'm the editor-in-chief. -That's great, Cinderella.

I'm the project manager. Roch Voisine, guitar, Christmas, Quebec.

Old people love it, young people do, too,

and guys don't feel insecure.

Don't call me Cinderella.

-If you see Philippe, call me. -Is there a problem?

We have a flight to Amsterdam, I can't find him.

Wednesday's headline isn't Roch Voisine.

It's this.

We got this last night, I want four stories this month.

-That's so many. Why four? -Four is good.

Are these the rushes or the show?

No, it's the show.

Big Brother, like the book?

-What book? -By Orwell.

1984.

-They're actors, it's not real. -I think it is.

-Why are they on TV? -They're stars.

-Why? -Because they're on TV.

It's a huge hit in Holland.

Is it stupid, or great?

"About ten people aged 20 to 50 lived confined in front of 26 cameras.

"This lack of privacy heightens tensions and reveals personalities."

Like in boarding school.

"Viewers eliminate contestants until only one winner remains."

I don't want to sound like a nerd,

but we can't promote this thing. It was shot on a webcam.

-You heard Raphael. -I get it.

These days everyone has a webcam and shows where they live.

I don't want one.

You still count in old francs.

No one wants to see where you live.

It's like a peep show.

Is that still a thing?

There's one next door, ask Karim.

You're wrong. I was going to the bakery.

Okay!

It's called "real TV."

Could we say it in another way? "The reality of TV?"

-"TV realism?" -It sounds snobbish.

-"Reality television." -Not bad.

It's really good, but a bit too long.

"Reality TV."

I like that.

Karim, get me a draft for tomorrow.

I'll do it.

Okay, thanks.

Go on, get to work.

-What's up with you and Xavier? -I think he's mad at me.

-Because of Envoyé Spécial? -He doesn't know about that.

What is it, then?

-He sent me to get his coke. -No way!

He does coke, and he asks the only Arab.

-I can't believe it. -He asked me in front of your boyfriend.

-Who? -Guillermo.

-Who's that? -The guy from I-Télé.

He's not my boyfriend, that's absurd.

Okay.

Don't tell anyone about Xavier.

That's why he always goes to the bathroom. I thought it was his prostate.

He said he couldn't go because his wife wants a divorce.

No way...

I'm not surprised, addicted to coke and prostate problems...

-His prostate isn't... -It is.

Hi!

Hi, honey!

-Did she take her medicine? -Did you eat?

She just took the rent for January.

I'll exchange it for some Pokémon cards. What did you eat?

Sushi.

-What? -Japanese food with fish.

By the way, Mrs. Nogare called for you,

-from Envoyé Spécial. -When?

-I don't know, after Le bigdil. -Where's the phone?

Not now, it's late!

They work until 10:00 p.m.

-There are people who work more than you? -Where is it?

-I said... -I need the phone.

Wait. I'm on the phone.

Here.

I'll call you back.

Thanks.

Battery's dead.

Can I use yours?

I promise I'll bring it back.

I promise.

Thanks.

And this...

-Have you heard of privacy? -Fuck!

Occupied!

-Why the hell is it so crowded here? -Watch your mouth.

Good evening, Mrs. Nogare.

Yes, it's Karim Chedira.

No, I'm sorry. It's the TV.

Yes.

He's not at the Ritz or Hotel George V.

-What about the Plaza? -I'll check. Can you check Branly?

I have another call.

Mireille, De Lint is on the line, I'll call you back.

Yes, Karim?

I'm calling because I...

I got the job at Envoyé Spécial.

That's great!

I'm sad you're leaving, but it's great.

Yeah.

No, but...

The girl I'll be replacing is coming to PPP.

What job?

Yours.

They're firing me.

Because of the ashtray.

You should've thrown 15 ashtrays at his face.

I'm gonna tell Raphael and Philippe that he's a sleazy pig.

Isa, dinner's ready!

I have to go. I'll call you later.

I hadn't seen her in ten years. She hasn't changed.

Still ugly?

-Honey... -She was ugly.

Isabelle, don't you like it?

I do, but I'm not hungry.

-Work problems? -No.

If you have problems at work, you can still come work for me.

I'm fine. Why would you say that?

-You've been sulking since the phone call. -No, I haven't.

Leave her alone, her job is hard.

You husband operates on brains all day long,

but he still smiles at dinner.

Maybe we don't really understand.

It's okay, Mom, thanks.

Yes, it must be difficult

to produce TV shows that will appeal to...

To who?

To the masses.

To the masses?

Maybe it's not the right term, I don't know.

She's got skills that I could use.

Drop it. Ask Sophie, she's broke.

Izzie, don't say that!

-Sorry, Sophie. -Sophie wrote a dissertation.

Oh, yeah, it's different.

You wouldn't have to read manuscripts.

-Publishing isn't just that. -Can you pass the water?

There are other jobs, too.

She's dyslexic, she doesn't have CJD.

She's right, I'm dumb, I don't understand when there are no pictures.

That's not what I'm saying.

Then don't say anything. I earn my own money,

I don't want a fake job in my dad's company.

Why the long face, then?

There's no long face!

I'm just a bit shocked, that's all.

Why?

I got a promotion.

-That's great! -Yeah.

-That's great news, congratulations. -Thank you.

It's wonderful...

-Champagne! -Well done.

-Daniel. -Yes, I'll go...

Champagne...

-Hello. -Evening, miss.

Can you help me, I'm looking for one of your clients,

Philippe Palazzo.

-What's your connection to him? -I'm his son.

Palazzo. He's here, he booked a room yesterday afternoon.

Philippe!

I can't fucking believe it.

Come on, get up.

Philippe, wake up.

-What's going on? -You have to go.

-I haven't paid. -What?

Haven't paid.

There.

That's for you.

Monica, can I get a kiss?

There, a kiss. Great, thanks.

Put your clothes back on, we need to go.

-I have to get changed. -No, we'll miss our flight.

Here.

A small private jet...

-You're pissing me off. -No...

-With a small jet. -Fuck.

Get dressed.

I'll pack your bags, our flight is in two hours.

I'd never had Swedish food, it's really good.

You'd have loved it. But they go crazy with shots.

-Skol for every meatball! -Aquavit, meatballs...

-And whores at the end. -What?

No, why are you saying that?

Hi, Damien.

Damien, honey, go to bed.

He's selling paintings and movie posters,

and he thinks I haven't noticed.

We've lost money, but we can still fix this.

We're doing our best.

I don't care if he has debts, even in brothels,

or I would've left him ages ago, like his ex.

-But he hasn't paid for Damien's school! -Sorry.

The company we bought in New York didn't work out.

How much do you owe?

-I don't know exactly. -Listen,

I've been supporting him for 15 years. Dinners with old men,

playing matchmaker... Don't treat me like a child.

40 million.

Wait. We'll get it back.

The meeting in Amsterdam will change everything.

I have a concept, it will be a huge success.

Trust me. I won't let him down, I promise.

I can't believe your car, look at it!

Chaunac is nervous!

Keep bombarding him about the participants' consent,

the psychological support...

If I run into Pinault like this, what will he think?

Are you listening?

Yes, I'm listening.

Don't talk ethics with Chaunac, focus on the viewing figures.

Nice to see you again, Mr. Palazzo.

Hello, darling.

-Welcome on board, Mr. Dumas. -Good evening.

Don't serve alcohol.

-Understood. -Thank you.

It's good to have you here.

Ready for takeoff, Mr. Palazzo.

"Monica, can I get a kiss."

Seriously?

I like Monica.

33% of viewers in Italy, 36% in Spain,

38% in Germany... They love it.

We'll never get that much.

Isabelle, if I don't answer, it's because I can't talk.

You're launching Big Brother in France?

I don't understand.

Four stories in a month isn't editorial policy,

it's a marketing plan.

You want to ramp things up.

Why are you calling me?

I want to be project manager.

Big Brother is perfect for me.

I know you want to fire me, but it would be a mistake.

-I'm telling you. -We'll talk, but I don't have a choice.

TF1 is putting pressure on me. They don't want you anymore,

after the ashtray incident.

Have you found a replacement?

-Yes, Xavier. -Xavier?

-That's disgusting. -I have to go.

-How are you? -Christian.

-Morning. -Morning.

Gentlemen.

Liam de Lint, creator of Big Brother.

Hello.

What did he say about the coke?

Actually, I forgot.

You remember the electors of Myoming State, but not this?

-Wyoming. -Tell me.

He's an ass, but I can't do this to him.

In a month you'll be gone. Why do you care?

After the ashtray incident, without Big Brother, I have nothing.

He trusted me.

I can't.

I understand. Forget it.

Wait.

He got caught with coke and spent the night in custody.

You mentioned something about his wife.

Please.

She wants to use it to take the kids back.

Again?

Excuse me?

You should be careful.

How much is it per minute?

I can tell you that.

28,000 francs per minute.

27,777 to be precise.

-Interesting. -Unbeatable.

Look at the numbers, it's a hit.

33% in Italy, 36% in Spain, 38% in Germany.

We have been struggling these last few months.

Come on, everyone is struggling.

Why are you offering it to me? Did TF1 say no?

To lead a revolution, we need an outsider.

And your channel is the outsider.

Not TF1.

I'm not an outsider. I'm a challenger.

Even better, it's time to challenge.

Excuse me.

Okay. Let's do it.

Give me some paper, we'll write a deal memo and sign.

Great. Amazing.

Let's do it.

Fantastic.

COME TO BATHROOM NOW

And...

I'm going to...

I'm going to the bathroom. We can sign it when I'm back.

Great.

Gentlemen.

Why do they all need to go for a piss?

Yes, tell him it's urgent.

I'll wait.

-We're doing coke. -Occupied.

-Are you sure? -I can feel it.

Yes, Michel, how are you? I'm with the guys from M6...

Thank you, Michel. See you tonight.

He's thinking about it. Maybe he'll make an offer.

-When? -Before midnight.

We have to stall with M6.

Go on. Go!

-What happened earlier? -What?

"Be careful." Are you threatening me?

-Not at all. -Then tell me.

Maybe it's none of my business, but...

My father had a cocaine addiction.

It nearly broke my family apart.

He's doing better now, he's sober.

I mean, he didn't do it alone.

I know it sounds stupid, the talking stick,

rehab, a three month-break...

Hold on.

You want me to go to rehab for three months?

I don't want anything.

I just know that in divorce cases,

judges are strict about behavior.

That's all.

If my dad hadn't gone to rehab,

he would have lost my sister and me.

It really saved us.

Three months?

-Maybe three... -How convenient.

You're not a good actor, it's sweet.

You're so ambitious, yet so awkward at the same time.

Karim, did you tell Isabelle about my problems?

-No. -You're the only who knows.

-Sorry, I was worried. -I'm worried about you, too.

I won't hire the girl from Envoyé Spécial. She can keep her job.

Too bad. You won't be able to take her job.

You had an interview, right?

Your temporary contract here ends at the end of the month.

That's it.

Karim.

It's taking too long.

Can you give us a minute?

Please. Thank you.

You're pissing me off.

You're not the right producer.

It's genuine, one shot, no editing, real people.

The opposite of what you do.

I worked for five years with Delarue before Exclusif. And you?

You don't get it. Delarue is in the past.

In Big Brother, we don't make fun of them,

we're here to watch them, to be with them, and you can't do that.

Noted, I'll screw up. Thank you.

They found the coke in your car, right?

Did you confess?

Did you?

No.

I'll take the blame. I'll say that I borrowed the car,

the coke was mine.

-Are you insane? -You'd be clean for your divorce.

And in return?

What do you think?

Drug possession is 250k.

-You'll have a record. -I know.

We'll drop by the office to get the details from the Dutch.

-We'll call before midnight. -One minute late and it's over.

Fine.

-Evening. -Evening.

-104, rue de La Boétie, please. -Yes, sir.

Xavier is leaving, he won't work on Big Brother.

What's up with him?

"Personal reasons."

YOU'RE GOOD. I'LL THINK ABOUT IT

If I asked you to work on Big Brother, what would you say?

You know how important that interview was for me.

I know exactly how you feel.

No, you don't know, okay?

You're Isabelle de Rochechouart, not Karim Chedira. You don't know.

Is that a yes?

For Big Brother?

I have to pay the rent for five people.

I have no choice.

You won't regret it.

It could be huge.

-Evening. -Evening.

Guillermo, right?

Yes.

What are you doing tonight?

Can we turn it off? I feel like I'm being watched.

I'm still crazy in love with you!

Not again.

-I like you, that's all. -Okay.

-I'll stop. -Are you mad?

No, you're young. You don't understand your feelings.

I couldn't let you walk home so late.

You're my boss's daughter, you know.

Is that the only reason?

I'm so disappointed.

He writes his number on her arm.

Who would do that?

She'll call him in five episodes.

-Do you think so? -I'm pretty sure.

And she'll fall in love with the redhead.

Do you watch this show?

It has 50% of the audience share, I want to understand.

Sure. At I-Télé, we're at 2%.

Am I in danger?

You're doing fine. I didn't want to change the channel.

When I was young, we weren't allowed to watch TV.

Me neither.

Well...

Wait.

Okay. Bye.

Bye.

-Champagne! -Wait!

Wait for the ink to dry.

My little country boy is a poet.

The outsider, from the depths of rural France.

Do people think I'm your assistant sometimes?

What? No.

-Why? -No reason.

-It's TF1. -Answer.

Hello, Michel?

Well, it's 11:47 p.m. I thought I'd turn back into a pumpkin.

No, I think you're making a mistake.

Yes. Okay.

Good night, then.

Shit.

I'll call Chaunac.

Shit.

-Hello? -Hello, it's Raphael Dumas.

Sorry for calling so late. We're all good to sign the deal.

Yes, but we're not doing it.

-Excuse me? -No.

It's not in our DNA.

It's too vulgar.

I hope you'll understand. Goodbye.

THREE HOURS EARLIER

We'll drop by the office to get the details from the Dutch.

-We'll call before midnight. -One minute late and it's over.

Fine.

Let's go the office.

No, we'll meet in three hours at TF1.

Where the hell is he?

So, Christian...

What have we decided?

The pistol, the sword,

or the rocket launcher?

Palazzo offered you Big Brother.

Is that a question?

How high are you willing to go?

At TF1, money is not a problem.

I have a better offer. No one gets it. Not you, not me.

You should quit smoking, Mr. Chaunac.

-Mr. Chaunac? -I've always called you Mr. Chaunac.

Then no one gets it. Neither of us.

We'll stop reality television from coming to France.

Actually, Christian, you're just an old conservative.

You too, otherwise, you would have called Palazzo back.

I just got back from Amsterdam. These shows, they're...

Voyeuristic, macabre, mind-numbing.

Hellish shit.

Don't exaggerate.

We can't let ourselves be manipulated because we're rivals.

We have the power to stop them.

The power and the responsibility.

We can't be the nation of both Chartres Cathedral

and 12 dummies living in a small apartment.

We can agree on that.

I heard that you want to adapt Survivor.

We're thinking about it.

You've sent a team on location,

to a island in Thailand, Klo...

Ko Lanta.

It's nothing like Big Brother.

It's reality television.

No, it's an improved version of Fort Boyard,

where they eat maggots, that's it.

Think about your children.

They're waiting for me to die.

Your grandchildren.

The future of your country.

If I bury Survivor,

you'll drop Big Brother and any similar concepts.

11:47 p.m., I'll call Palazzo.

Philippe? Michel.

We're not going to do it.

We'd be betraying our audience with this type of program.

Maybe a smaller channel like M6, why not?

Sure, see you soon.

Hello? Yes.

Yes, but we're not doing it.

It's not in our DNA.

It's too vulgar.

I hope you'll understand. Goodbye.

They screwed us over.

They made a deal, I can't believe it.

I was so sure of myself. I should have convinced you.

It's not your fault.

-We'll do better next time. -When?

It was our last chance, we're screwed.

We have nothing.

You have nothing.

Hello, this is Alain Dumas. I'm not available right now.

Dad, it's me. I wanted to know if I should come home for Christmas...

Or not. You haven't let me know.

Okay, call me back.

Love you.

-Hi. -Hi.

Everything okay?

No, it's a shit show.

Another way to save money

would be to record five episodes of Exclusif in a day.

For a news show, that's great.

-What went wrong? -News travels fast.

-What went wrong? -Too trashy, vulgar.

-We're ahead of our time. -Close the door.

Yeah.

No, get out. We're working.

She's a nutjob. Wasn't she fired?

She applied for Big Brother.

-To be on it? -No, to produce it.

Let's change the concept to a dating show.

A romantic version.

People looking for love. It's summer camp, not boarding school.

The best couple wins.

We'll get rid of the gloomy, anxiety-inducing art direction.

We'll bring in colors. Blue, pink, pastels.

Like a sitcom.

Hélène et les garçons, but in real life.

Big Sister.

What does that change?

Wait.

It's not a bad idea.

It's not bad at all. Close the door.

-Hello, sleep well? -Yes, thanks for picking up.

Stanislas insisted.

-Hello. -Hello.

Did Drezen promise to drop Survivor?

He will betray you, you know how he is.

Network bosses have a heart, too.

We can't slit chickens' throats on live TV.

What about Big Sister?

A French dating show where a couple would win,

not just one person.

We'd redo everything in blue and pink... Like a sitcom.

A refined Big Brother.

You'd protect your reputation with the public and the media.

That's good.

A hit with no scandal.

In Big Sister, we don't kill chickens, we feed them.

Who am I talking to?

Isabelle, project manager.

Don't they teach you manners at rallies?

It's my idea.

Hello?

-Hello? -They muted us.

One moment, Stanislas.

In your dreams.

We need a pro. What's his name...

-The guy from Miss France. -I'm a war machine.

Are you still there?

If it doesn't work, she'll be our scapegoat.

Hello?

With a huge budget for your first production,

if you screw up, it's over. No second chance.

You can say goodbye to our industry.

I'm going to hang up.

Come on, Christian is about to hang up.

We need Isabelle de Rochechouart.

Cinderella?

Why Cinderella?

She threw an ashtray at the director of TF1.

-It was an accident! -Too bad.

She's got a real vision for the show,

I promise you it won't be trashy.

And TF1?

They're right, Drezen will betray us.

I said no to reality television.

I never said anything about a dating show.

Eleven prime time shows, 70 access shows,

-for 100 million francs. -100?

We said 150.

We can't do it for 100, come on.

Take it or leave it.

Fine.

But with a 25 million bonus for 25% audience share.

30%.

28%, but we get half of the merchandising and premium calls.

That's fine.

Wait a minute, we need to discuss this seriously.

-We can mortgage the offices. -That's all we have left!

We'll reduce the fees, I'll find a solution.

Are you sure?

I'm not sure, I have a feeling.

We're good, Christian.

I'll fax over the deal.

Not September.

If TF1 launches Survivor, they'll do it in July.

June?

No. We need to be done before they broadcast it.

-That means April. -Fine.

April, that's not possible,

it only gives us four months, we have nothing.

It's insane.

Aren't you a war machine?

April is fine with us.

I'll sign it and send it back.

Talk to you later.

You're done with Exclusif. Big Sister is your life now, okay?

Do you know where to start?

We need a better name.

No, the casting!

Loana, can I take you home?

Sure. I'll introduce you to my boyfriend.