Original subtitles

Previously on The Trigger...

Won't stay in this shitty country.

- The cooperative. It's important. - More important than family?

Civil war with what? We don't have guns.

Overton.

Ideas the public is willing to consider and accept.

Anger, fear and injustice. Kill Bill is on trend.

The yellow deepens as it gets retweeted.

Our good old #FirstFemicide

and a sweet #ArmsForWomen.

Marie's strategy is streamlets. The window widens.

The club will do it. He explained Overton, it's nuts

Everything changed this morning I don't understand.

It's party time.

Celebration

Young and old and little too.

We're all friends! It's party time!

Celebration!

Like a burst of sunshine,

A wind of madness,

Nothing is the same today.

The dead and buried world is resurrected

We can breathe.

It's party time.

Celebration

My city is so beautiful

Without those damn trucks

No more diesel,

Grass covers even the asphalt

My city is so beautiful, look at these kids playing

They laugh and break things, no longer afraid of the big bad wolf.

And water is really water is really water

That you can drink from streams

Come dance in the street, it's no longer forbidden!

It's party time.

Celebration

Believe me when I say this is paradise.

It's party time. Celebration.

Like a burst of sunshine,

A wind of madness,

Nothing is the same today

We are dazzled by our freedom

And freedom is a party.

Celebration

THE TRIGGER

Jacques-Alain Miller?

He founded the School of the Freudian Cause.

He'd be a distinguished guest for Love of Words.

- I loved Nicolas Floury's book. - Nonsensical Reality.

Didier, how about Floury and Miller?

Naturally, imposing a theme would be inappropriate

but for a title, how about "Psychoanalysis Today"?

Not that again...

- Think of our audience - What audience?

We were beat by a children's program.

There was fierce competition that night.

- True. - 174,000 viewers.

Public TV's worst late-night rating ever.

So, the Freudian Cause... No.

Milner. Let's try Milner. - I said no.

Not Miller 2021/22 Jean-Claude Milner, the linguist

That's original. Milner doesn't mince words

Arrogance of the Present and Criminal Trends.

- He can debate with Badiou. - Fabulous

Stupefaction!

My program director looks at me as if I'd escaped the loony bin.

Remain poker-faced.

Then she asks in a quavering voice "You want to invite Marie Kinsky?"

I explained that the right to bear arms is now a debate in France.

I'm against it, but Marie Kinsky sparked a debate.

And the role of Love of Words is to debate intellectual trends

Once she recovered, she understood.

Understand too. I'll improve your ratings.

As a TV personality, ratings make me happy.

But what counts is enlightening people on contemporary issues and...

Good ratings

I looked over your figures. Rather disheartening.

So you invite the devil to bump them up.

I adore Love of Words. Except for your fawning over Foucault

- It's the only worthwhile public show. - Then come!

That's just it. It would destroy you.

You'd get 200,000 more on the night, but they'd massacre you.

The leftist press would accuse you

of conniving with the devil

The next week, you'd fall below 100,000

and lose your welcome at the Avignon Festival.

- Thank you for being frank. - Thank you for thinking of me.

Suggest a prime-time slot.

I lied.

When I suggested a debate on arms

my program director was hardly enthusiastic.

She finally agreed I with a sigh,

as if she wanted to pacify a doddering old uncle.

So a special prime-time Love of Words...

How can I put this? No chance.

Who said Love of Words?

At each election, the winner is abstention.

Abstention has reached new heights

and is now France's leading political party.

At the National Assembly where laws are passed,

deputies were elected by only 26% of voters on electoral rolls.

And so how can we truly know

what the French people want?

I asked Jerome Malavel from the Institute of Public Opinion

to select a panel of French citizens

Beyond representing parties, ages and socio-professional categories,

this panel includes 53% abstentionists

the abstention rate in our legislative elections

We created a replica of the Assembly

that is far more representative of France than the other.

There will be 577 participants, like the number of deputies.

Thursday evening

these 577 persons will be seated right here

in the great amphitheatre

of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council.

And you will see a New Assembly. Your Assembly.

A true representation for words of truth.

For its inaugural session,

it will vote on a particularly hot news topic,

the right to bear arms.

Two distinguished guests.

One is for...

Republican Bertrand Latour.

The other is against.

Minister of the-Interior, Nicolas Barnet.

A powerful, uncompromising live debate for the French people.

At the end, the New Assembly will vote.

Our 577 members will vote.

What will they decide?

Look forward to seeing you Thursday at 9 p.m.

Where do we place a prime-time debate on public TV?

Acceptable" or"reasonable"?

The lawmaking process is what counts.

- Hey, this is a fake Assembly. - The two are connected.

If the fake one votes “yes", the real one will fold.

When Latour tables a bill, many won't dare vote it down

Deputies don't take orders from a panel.

- They're elected. - Exactly.

The panel is more representative.

How will a conflict of legitimacy end?

On the one side, deputies Loved by all!

On the other, French citizens. Who'll win?

The real Assembly has 400,000 viewers.

The fake will have ten times more.

An abyss versus a major event.

Marie wants to overwhelm democratic systems with political showbiz.

Force them to follow a shift of opinion that she's created.

- How are things with the minister? - What?

Barnet. How did things end?

- Not great. - Meaning?

Snuck out of his office while he was on the phone.

Then you'll apologise.

Adam had a health issue You told the usher.

"Oh no, no one told you? You must think I have no manners!

- I won't do it. - Sam, you must coach Barnet.

- He's a shallow jerk. - That's why he needs you.

If Kinsky coaches Latour, he'll be destroyed.

You didn't want to involve the club Fine.

But the panel must vote against arms.

- I'll think it over. - You won't.

It's in five days and Barnet's a busy man.

What are you doing? - Selling you as our best media coach.

- Obama found you sensational. - I never met Obama!

No one will check.

Hello, Tristan Javier from Kairos.

Can I speak to the minister's private secretary?

I'll hold.

I have access to Latour's Twitter account.

Write this... “Ever been assaulted? Feel vulnerable?

"Want protection? Send me your stories

share your fears.

Okay, I'll send a story.

#NewAssembly has been trending on Twitter.

I'll add #TeamLatour

and #ArmsForCitizens...

That's the fishing net.

How do we reel in personal data?

I post the stories you sent me.

LGBTs, taxi drivers, delivery guys, home nurses...

Repost with bots and hook real people.

Where's the Facebook group? Here.

Show me.

- It's so ugly. - Of course.

These are amateur, Facebook groups grassroots

Think Amstrad 664 ergonomics and lots of spelling mistakes.

Don't worry, it looks authentic.

Here I used fluorescent colours

I studied groups opposed to lower speed limits.

- People leave their addresses here? Yes.

It's super visible despite the mess.

I shouldn't tell you this, but this isn't optimal for you.

Asked for a personal data extractor and you did it.

But it's costly. The premium loyalty program would be best for you.

It's expensive, but worthwhile.

Bots alone for "Charlotte and the “"New Assembly"

cost 6500 euros times twenty and times and times thirty.

You're worth it, Yellow. Good night.

Good night.

Let's go.

I understand, last winter my son broke his leg skiing

and my wife was sick.

I had to rush out of a meeting.

Luckily, he was flown to Paris and I rescheduled another meeting.

- I'm glad your son is better. - Thank you.

I have fond memories of you and our discussions.

Stefan Zweig...

What did they prepare for me this time?

Three page statements with never-ending sentences

What I need are catchphrases

This is a debate. Do you have any catchphrases?

Yes, but first, the objective

Obtain the majority of the panel.

Tell me... what's he like?

- Latour? You need to be careful - Not Latour. Obama.

He has a great intellect.

But I was mostly impressed by his calm and work capacity.

- There's no magic formula. - We must know the panel.

How they think.

This topic reflects fundamental opinions...

“"Disillusioned militants Optimistic liberals"?

Common Destiny classifications

I know the pollster who created the panel.

He adores them. I use them them too.

But this isn't a usual panel by profession, education, income?

You need to grasp the dividing lines of a fragmented society

The right to bear arms is a world vision.

- Existential. - The name again?

Common Destiny classifications.

The panel is based on people's gut convictions.

Political psychology wins elections.

- Fine. - Take our disillusioned militants

They're a laugh.

Cosmopolitan, sensitive to inequalities, left-leaning,

but also pessimistic and depressed.

- How many are there? - 12%.

69 out of 577.

- No big deal. - Not so fast

Your new feminist friend, Charlotte Pajon,

is a typical disillusioned militant.

- These are mine. - The stabilisers, yes

Involved, moderate rational, compassionate. 19%.

- 110 out of 577. - I'd hoped for more.

Moderation is easy when you can make ends meet, which many can't.

Optimistic libertarians are yours too

Individualistic, liberal, involved, confident.

- How many? - 11% of the population. 63 out of 577.

The underprivileged? - Sedentary, fragile.

Mistrustful, forgotten, angry.

The good news? They comprise the largest category, 22%

127 out of 577.

Isn't life beautiful?

Now for your core.. The nationalists.

Nativists declinists, self-righteous.

How many?

115 out of 577.20%

That's a lot

It's not new, look at election results

Range of anti-gun voters... 220 to 250

200 to 230 potential pro-gun voters

That doesn't add up to 577.

Something's missing. - 93.

There are 93 wait-and-seers.

They'll make the difference.

The result depends on them.

Wait-and-seers have a unique profile

They're shut off from the rest of society.

Hardcore abstentionists.

They won't take a stand because politicians don't.

Individualistic...

Uncertain...

Uninvolved, detached...

Touch their hearts, Exhort their reason

I have three witnesses.

A retired police chief. 20 years in the suburbs

What he's seen will make you shudder

Careful, this isn't my theatre.

The objective is not to please our but to seduce others.

So keep your cop in line.

I want rational facts and statistics.

- All right. - For example, he can say...

In 40 years on the force

I learned to mistrust ideologies and preconceptions

Figures are always more explicit than words.

For example, how many municipalities in France?

36,000

Police stations? How many?

596

Only 596.

This is good.

But three male witnesses won't work.

A woman will destroy the “male brute with a gun" image.

Feminists took us up a notch.

I know, we can invite Kill Bill

Yes and no. Kill Bill is too radical.

Pajon will come

She's a fabulous asset for them

You're the best qualified to fight her.

- You have to be a witness. - No.

- It's a chance... - It's a compromise.

- The debate is on guns - Regardless, I refuse.

I'll never appear with your minister or endorse stateracism

You're a feminist but you didn't follow Pajon.

You didn't sign Mamadou and De Gamey's petition.

If legalising guns didn't matter, you'd have followed your comrades.

But you're isolating yourself.

So I'll cut my losses and avoid Barnet.

- Please... - It's no.

- What's your purpose? - Excuse me?

Why are you an activist?

I thought it was clear to all. The anti-racist cause.

- What's the endgame? - An obscene word.

- Equality - Then ask for equality.

The minister needs you. Negotiate.

He uses republican universalism to justify systemic racism.

- What's to negotiate? - You said it, equality.

Or maybe it's just a slogan?

What do people gain with you?

An anti-discrimination police squad.

One officer in each precinct

to record acts of discrimination

based on sex, race, religion or disability.

Usually, their complaints go nowhere.

Their uniform will be different People need to know they're safe.

Thank you.

I want proof of each ID check to fight police harassment.

A stamp as proof that you've been checked.

Ten tickets a week, people can press charges

Straight to the anti-discrimination squad

I'll take care of it all

Let me be clear.

I only come if Barnet confirms my demands on air.

It'll be done.

Never. I will not appear with Chelbi.

The panel has 57 racialised persons

Stop slicing up France. There's one category, French.

Hence the anti-discrimination squad

So that all French are treated the same

Chelbi calls police stations DZNPs

Danger Zones for Native Peoples.

No way, do you hear me?

On the panel, 57 are racialised Why give up on them?

- There's a call for guns... - From delinquents!

Mamadou was in custody for burning a national symbol.

If I use him, I'll lose my nationalists. That trick won't work.

De Gamey has a clean record.

And he's white. Everything will be fine.

On which side of the law is the right to bear arms?

With the violent?

In that case, why was the Third Estate deprived of this right?

Why did only aristocrats have the right?

And why did Article 15 of Colbert's macabre Black Code

forbid slaves to bear arms?

For their good?

And why did Vichy sentence to death

Algerian Jews who bore arms?

Was it to emancipate them?

The Ancien Regime, the Black Code, Vichy

and again today!

How can one miss the chilling continuity?

Every day, native men and women

from working-class areas are menaced

intimidated, discriminated against,

harassed and sometimes killed

by organised gangs of ultra-right supremacists.

Like in the 30s, they again plague our streets.

Along with, it must be said... certain police syndicates.

Quiet, please!

Ladies and gentlemen, please.

Please!

Quiet, please!

I'm asking you to calm down.

The minister won't ask you to testify. I'm really sorry.

Barnet never planned on using me, am I right?

I'm not mad, you tried. But some things never change.

- Goodbye - No, wait. Here's what he'll say...

In short, there's only one alternative.

This was the conclusion of Mr de Gamey's thrilling lecture.

An alternative as old as Hobbes and Max Weber.

On the one hand,

the monopoly of legitimate state violence

On the other, the violence of the state of nature.

This is the choice before you.

The police...

or militias

Are our police forces perfect? No.

And this is why you support guns Mr de Gamey.

You strongly denounce certain injustices.

They destroy your trust in our institutions.

And yet, you have to hold steady.

Because your cure is worse than the illness

The answer to racist crimes

is not guns but the destruction of supremacist groups

And I will do this.

The answer to discrimination is not guns but squads in every precinct in France.

And I will do this

Against abusive ID checks,

the answer is not guns but a systematic stamp of proof.

And I will do this!

Perfect. I didn't compromise myself and I won everything.

- But he'll take all the credit. So what?

When I say I fight for the cause, not myself, I mean it.

And you deserve credit too. You played us good.

- No, I thought... - It was a compliment.

- All right. - Hope to talk soon.

Yes, goodbye.

I must mention the risk of civil war

We need to overdramatise.

She'll try something underhanded.

She takes her adversary's arguments

and twists them until I they become her strength.

“She" who?

I have an idea.

Mr Minister, you do exactly what you accuse me of.

You play on fear.

You speak of militias

You speak of civil war and community self-defence, not me.

Because I believe the contrary

Every community has honest and dishonest people

Today, alas, only the dishonest are armed.

Hold your course on the fundamentals.

She'll claim guns can be controlled.

The issue isn't about isn't about t gun control, it's about guns.

We can't give in.

You seek to win us over with your long list

of prerequisites to have the right to bear arms.

No psychiatric precedents no criminal record...

But your safeguards keep no one safe.

Did you know that the majority of Bataclan terrorists had no record?

You say you're a great democrat. I'm happy for you.

But what regimes forbid citizens to bear guns?

Dictatorships. At least, I think so.

I didn't know you admired North Korea.

Spare us your simplistic shortcuts.

In 1940, Petain passed a law forbidding guns.

Does that make everyone who's against guns pro-Petain?

DeGaulle was pro-Pétain?

In 1946, De Gaulle demanded that all guns be rounded up.

- It'll be violent - I know what.

Bloody - You'll break his bones, one by one.

- Make him bite the dust. Want to hear them snap!

As in the Assembly,

you have 30 seconds to make your choice.

20 seconds left.

It might seem obvious, but let me remind you.

The green button is a vote for the right to bear arms.

The red button is against

and the white button is an abstention.

Here it comes...

Five, four,

three, two,

One...

Time's up! It's over, all bets are off!

FOR 264 AGAINST 259

By a majority of only five votes,

this result was extremely close

264 of you

voted in favour of the right to bear arms

You're late. - It's an uncivilised hour.

I'm a premium member And I have donuts.

- Donuts excuse everything. Sure.

Almost t everything

A record audience!

The trend line kept rising like in a variety show.

Salin was over the moon! He texted me all night.

“Marie, your idea was exceptional. Let's discuss the follow-up.

Hon, my services usually cost an arm and a leg.

- He thought I'd volunteered - What's the gig now?

Latour will drop a bomb on the 8 a.m. news.

He wants to introduce a pro-arms bill with 124 other deputies.

The bill proposes a one-year experiment.

That way, cowards can vote later.

You don't need me? - Yes.

To attain a majority vote, we need to help the reluctant ones

How?

I emailed you every deputy's Twitter account.

May 577 Charlotte Pajon blossom.

We know the ropes

Okay. Let's go.

"Even hardcore French abstentionists love France's spirit of solidarity,

"its associations and community groups

Your words, not mine

Qualitative Findings on Wait-and-Seers. 27 May 2022.

A stand by Racing will affect public opinion.

We do a survey and your deputies will think twice.

- We need an event. - People don't care about stars.

- It could hurt us. - Racing is more than stars.

It's a collective and cooperative.

Damn it, Sam, they're winning.

Latour is gathering signatures left and right.

Do what you like, I'll talk to Francois.

Want to avoid a disaster

- And if the club says "no"? - It won't. We must fight.

- Know what Stefan Zweig wrote? - The World of Yesterday.

No, not that. Fishermen on the Banks of the Seine.

One of his last texts before he committed suicide.

The date is 21 January 1793. Place de la Concorde.

Louis XVI walks up the steps to the guillotine.

And there, while the crowd screams

a few men fish peacefully on the Seine.

And Zweig says something “"They only cared about their floats

Millions of people will never experience historical events, only their own lives,

Fodé, Francois and Pascal have the right to their lives.

Let them watch their floats

It was my job to prevent this. I won't make others pay

Barnet was perfect.

Latour had a huge advantage. He's not in power.

- He could say anything. - Don't bother, Tristan.

Francois, local authorities and employees.

For you.

- Fodé, you've got the players - Thanks.

Pascal, the technical staff.

- You've thought out your arguments? - Yeah, yeah.

You're with someone who disagrees with you

You can't convince them that the club must take a stand.

- You do what? - Sanction.

Pascal, we've talked about this. We uses subtlety

In a group, only sanctions work. You show authority.

- It's not about authority. - It is. I call the shots or I'm done.

If I start negotiating, I'll have to negotiate everything

The physiotherapist will say "Fodé plays too much, he'll get hurt.

But I know Fodé needs to play to be in form.

Right?

- Yes. - There you go.

I know the game, you've got to keep a tight grip.

Tristan, why don't we let Pascal manage his staff?

It's in my contract. I command my staff.

Fodé, what if you feel resistance?

Listening mode. I don't interrupt, I let them talk.

- Okay, super. Then what? - We adapt.

If we feel an opening we keep pushing, if not we back off.

- We move on. - Great.

Excuse me.

Pascal.

Idriss, come on.

You feel threatened by what? And by whom?

Today, nothing But what about the future?

Things could blow up, no one knows

I do know, was threatened.

And it wasn't hypothetical.

They burnt my house down with my family inside.

Am I asking for guns?

Causes are well and good... I love Racing's initiatives.

But this is politics.

There's a bill As a sponsor, we can't take a stand.

- I understand. - We're a brand name

- Our clients are from all leanings. - It's your choice, Paul.

Last time I looked for investors, I found plenty.

If need be, I'll find new sponsors.

- And me, new I partners. It's clear.

Goodbye, Francois - Bye.

I don't want trouble. They'll say we're meddling shit stirrers.

Wasn't Maradona a shit stirrer? Cruyff smoked in changing rooms

Cantona kicked supporters like Bruce Lee!

Even me and my headbutt.

I know. But I'm not at your level.

Let alone Cruyff's or Maradona's. I can't afford to make waves

It would be electoral suicide I know my town.

People are worried about security after the wave of robberies

We have a shooting club.

The number of members increased by 30% in one year

It's impossible.

Last election, the right wing called me lax on security.

"The angelical left. You know the story.

Besides, is this the role of a football club?

- Are we a team or not? - This is about guns, not football.

But it is. - It's not football.

- You know the Christmas match? - French League.

No.

The Christmas match

was during World War I.

The one with the trenches.

It was cold. It was winter.

The front line between Germans and English.

In the middle, a no-man's-land.

Wounded and dead men, bit sofa arms and legs.

Blood everywhere, carnage

It took courage to go out there and get the bodies.

Gunfire all around. Grenades, boom!

But this...

this was Christmas Day.

So there was a truce.

They ceased fire and went out to get the bodies.

And out in the middle...

was a ball.

So they started to play.

At first, they took it easy.

They kicked the ball around

The ground was frozen, you had to watch your step.

They were prudent but they played!

They played.

They'd been shooting at each other, now they were playing

But wait... then what happened?

An officer came along.

He took his cap,

Then one of his men's,

and set them seven metres seven metres apart.

The guy was making goals And it took off.

Eleven men on each side and one referee.

They played, they used tactics.

The English obviously played direct. But the Germans were organised.

We know them, they fill gaps.

Opposing styles. It was beautiful.

You say it's not football?

Guys, football is not just football.

Sometimes it says "Why are we killing each other?"

Sometimes football says “Let's make peace

So yes, of course it's football

And of course we're a team.

Coach? Who won the match?

Your sister.

Who is for the club taking a stand?

Who's against?

Dear supporters, dear public,

tonight Racing chose to defend a cause it feels strongly about.

And so your club invited a friend

who has a message for us all.

Straight from the United States,

please give a warm round of applause to Ms Chelsea Wemley

Good evening

My name is Chelsea Wemley. I come from the state of Florida.

Five years ago, my high school was attacked by an armed killer.

Five years ago, 15 of our friends were taken from us.

13 others were were wounded

and all of us, absolutely all of us

saw their lives devastated

Everyone who was there understood

Everyone who was touched by the cold armed violence understood.

No one could have imagined bodies in this building

waiting to be identified for more than one day.

No one knew that the missing persons had stopped breathing

long before the alert was sounded.

No one could imagine the consequences,

nor how far things would go.

For those who cannot understand,

because they refuse to,

I'll say how far things went.

Six feet under.

In only minutes, with one AR-15

my friend Amelie would never again complain about her piano practice

Samuel would never again call Miley "Miss Unicorn".

Robbie would never again see his brother Dave

Terry would never again rib Juliana at the canteen

Mia would never again play truant.

Sylvia would never again play video games with Eljah.

William would never again play baseball.

Maria, never again.

Austin never again.

Kyle and Keith never again.

Mickey, never again. Jamie and Nancy, never again.

April, never again. Faith, never again.

I've been standing before you for exactly two minutes and 45 seconds

The killer had emptied his clip.

He'd leave his rifle behind and blend in with the students

to escape.

He walked free for on hour before being arrested

This shooting was the 42nd act of armed violence

in a school

In a country where guns are legal.

Do not accept this folly.

Keep guns illegal.

Because there's no turning back

You don't want to live this. Ever.

Fight for your lives, before someone else takes them.

Some Advice from a Friend

Please, I've had enough of her face.

- How are you? - Just great. I've lost 64 signatories

They play tough, but a dewy-eyed kid and some mush...

They all jump ship.

What a shit era.

No one the manipulation. The manipulation. sees

It'll kill us. They'd better not come crying next attack.

You need to retract your bill.

No way, I'd look like a coward.

Egos are for losers.

Public opinion works in a very simple manner.

People memorise images played non-stop on social media and TV.

Symbolic images, star images that spark emotions.

A dead migrant child, empty streets during lockdowns...

As long as the French remember this image, you can do nothing.

- Take a short break. - Right, break.

These images last three months. After that, they're deleted.

Meanwhile, take a step back and savour.

Savour?

In so little time?

We are the force.

Public opinion will be rebuilt on our vision of society.

Look.

I've collected tens of thousands of emails, addresses and phone numbers

No political party has my client base.

- Nothing's more precious - If I retract, we'll lose them.

No. On the contrary.

Explain that the cards are stacked against you.

To radicalise them even more

Frustration is the fuel of mobilisation.

Politics is two things.

A client base controlling numbers. We've got that.

And a schedule controlling time. We've got that.

A schedule? I don't understand.

The presidential elections.

Yes, speaking.

Yes, all right. Of course.

With pleasure.

Goodbye.

- Good evening, ma'am. Follow me. .Thank you.

- Have a seat - Thank you.

Ms Berger, the President of France is waiting.

Good evening, Mr President.

Ms Berger

Please sit down.

It was another close call.

- I'd like your opinion. - Of course.

Where are we?

Before, right before, a long time before?

Or is this the tipping point?

Civil war.

Can we pull through this?