Original subtitles

Want some, Bobo?

They're coming!

Come on, get to work.

Get out of there!

There!

Get out! Get down, I said!

Come on, guys, the chains!

Get the chains out!

Go, go!

Oh!

Don't move!

Our friend is becoming impatient.

Krystof, look!

Your guardian angel has arrived.

Thank you. With this I can go to Marseille and...

Keep this to yourself, I don't want to know anything.

Is it true, you were in the Polish army?

What do you think? Two heroes before you!

It's fine, he's in a hurry.

- What does he want from me? - I don't know.

What's your name?

Bojarski.

Ceslaw Jan Bojarski.

Let's just say 'Jan'. Don't take it personally.

I don't work here, sir.

Word is you've got talent, Jan.

Good.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Oh, really?

But do you know who I am?

Of course.

Everybody knows you, Mr. Scola.

Then you know I'm not talking about mechanics.

I do fakes too.

- I... - No need to lie.

Your buddy sang your praises.

So, since I don't like competition,

you're going to work for me.

By the way, you're not Jewish, are you?

Ah! That boy's got nothing but qualities!

Look at these visas, Mr. Taylorman.

You won't find better.

- With these, you're already in Switzerland. - Thank you.

That'll be 7,000 with the visas.

- We said 5,000. - I had to revise my prices upward.

That's all I have.

And this is worth something.

You are very pretty.

I don't understand German!

I learned Spanish.

'Volver a casa', does that ring a bell?

No?

I'll leave it to you.

Everything okay?

Come on, let's dance.

So, have you thought about it?

Are we getting married soon?

I won't be free.

We'll have three children.

Two boys and a girl who looks like you.

We'll have a dog too, for hunting.

Of course!

Oh, no!

What's that?

A system I'm working on.

A coffee maker that turns on by itself

at wake-up time.

An invention of mine.

- It's 7 p.m., right? - Yes.

I still have a few adjustments to make.

How did you get to France?

I was an officer during the war and...

I was taken prisoner.

I escaped from a camp in Hungary and came here.

You're pulling my leg.

No, not at all.

So, besides coffee makers,

what do you dream of, Mr. Bojarski?

With this marvel, no more stains.

The ink flows thanks to... a tiny ball

that rolls when you press the pen. It's revolutionary.

Do you know the Barjon company, Mr. Bojari?

We sell ink, not just pens.

The more the pens leak, the more ink we sell.

Why would I want a pen that doesn't leak?

Because a disposable pen gets thrown away and bought again.

Schoolkids change every month.

Stenographers, every week.

Imagine the profits.

- Your drawings are interesting. - Thank you.

But you're knocking on the wrong door.

I brought a prototype.

Try it.

Have you filed a patent?

I'm working on it.

That's not enough, in business law.

Do you think I'm a thief?

Try it and I'll drag you to court.

And who will the judge believe?

A Polish immigrant or a former Resistance fighter?

These photos are good, you shouldn't have given them away.

You couldn't stand them anymore.

Well, I regret it.

Dad!

Hey!

Are you okay, darling? Yes.

- Where's Mom? - In the kitchen.

Shall we go see her?

Come on, stay here.

Get comfortable.

I'm warning you, tonight my mother is awful.

Oh, really?

That's not like her, though.

Did your meeting go well?

Too bad for them.

I married an inventor, not a tie salesman.

Whoa!

It swivels!

Oh yes, look at that!

You can adjust the height,

thanks to this hydraulic column.

Do you see the handle? There?

Oh! It's a bit low.

You can raise it. The handle is here.

You adjust it to your liking.

It's wonderful.

Have you found an interested manufacturer?

Not yet, but I have contacts.

Jan, I can find you work in my company.

In deliveries, would that suit you? Dad, Jan is an engineer.

Yes, but we won't always be able to help you.

France doesn't recognize his degree.

France welcomes you, and we house you.

You have plenty of apartments.

That's still one less rent payment.

I can write you a check.

Don't worry. You're welcome here.

Dad, come give me a kiss!

I'm coming, sweetheart!

I love it when you pick my pockets.

Soon, we'll be less dependent on them.

I promise you.

I don't want you to worry.

I'm not worried.

I've already told you, I was born in Gdansk.

My papers were lost during the war.

- Then you don't exist. - That's absurd.

You can see that I exist.

I can't do anything about it.

And it's full of mistakes.

Learn to write French first.

Guys!

Lalanne?

Here.

- Gastaud? - Yeah.

- Colson? - Yes.

- And Faivre. - Here.

And Bojarski.

And Dog... Dow... Dow, it's Dow.

Don't come back Monday.

We were hired for two weeks.

I have Frenchmen who come first.

What the hell are you talking about?

You think they carry meat better than us?

- They make less of a fuss. - Drop it, Dow.

You can't put brains where there aren't any.

'Liberty, equality, fraternity.'

I'm getting out of this shitty country.

Jan.

I didn't escape, I was pardoned.

And you, how are you?

Apparently, things aren't great.

I'm fine, I'm managing.

You're a family man now, aren't you?

What do you want from me?

It's too green.

And I'm not even talking about the print quality.

The colors bleed at the edges.

It's really ugly.

See, I need you. My guys are useless.

I need someone better.

I've never forged banknotes.

There's a first time for everything.

Don't worry, these are real.

Cheers, Mr. plastic engineer.

- Consulting engineer. - Same thing.

You're my hero, Bojarski.

'Well, Well, Well' Ray Ventura Old dandies

have all the nerve But after all

old age has to pass Well! Well! Well! Joy lifts me up

Well! Well! Well! I feel light as air

But suddenly there's a knock at my door

And I recognize the voice I like so much

Well! Well! Well! Spring is coming back. Hey, guys.

Shit!

No, the boss asked me to stay because we're behind schedule.

Here!

Yeah, I have to go now.

Kiss the little one for me.

You know what we do with snitches?

Cry of pain

Come on, throw him out.

What are you doing?

I'm admiring your work.

Around here, guys like you who struggle, it ends badly for them.

5 years in prison for fake papers,

30 for forged banknotes.

Welcome to the big leagues.

Minerva and Hercules

Suzanne?

You okay?

I waited for you all night.

The boss gave me the day off, he approved my prototypes.

I'm all yours, both of you.

All to myself.

I dropped Aline off at my mother's.

So...

The neighbors might see us.

But we have nothing to hide.

Right?

What's this?

An advance for the patent on my pen.

See?

I knew that one day, your talent would be recognized.

Look.

I have a surprise for you too.

Really?

- And here's one for you. - Thank you.

Ma'am.

Mr. Director, may I see you?

Don't move.

OK, load up! Come on!

Hurry up!

Careful, it's delicate.

Don't move!

Stop moving or I'll shoot!

Get in the car! Hurry up!

Come on!

Don't move!

We're getting out of here! Come on!

Come on, let's get the hell out of here!

Come on, come on! Let's go!

Come on! Woo-hoo!

Good morning, Mr. Bojarski.

Good morning, sir.

Dad!

Dad, you're squeezing me too hard! You're choking me.

Sorry.

I've never seen any this good.

That's the problem. Our agents have trouble telling them apart.

Weren't they supposed to be impossible to forge?

I'll pass the information up the chain.

To alert the Élysée? No.

Let's first assess the counterfeit that's out there.

I won't risk the security of our banknotes.

I'm just asking you to trust me.

I'll track down the forgers and arrest them, like always.

Relax, old man. You look on edge.

While he was in Washington for lectures,

Chief Inspector Mattei was recalled

to lead the investigation into the Rambouillet robbery,

which left 5 dead, including 2 gendarmes.

We were able to interview him about counterfeiting.

Inspector!

Inspector, a word about the robbery

of the Banque de France van?

I can only tell you

that I will avenge the innocent victims.

- I'll send the guilty to prison. - Thank you.

France vs. England in rugby union.

The French are outflanking the British.

Field Marshal Montgomery...

You think it'll be okay?

What are you doing with my bills?

If anyone asks you, you say you don't know.

Oh, there are rules.

You can't just spend them like that.

Little shit!

You're right. Look the other way, I prefer that.

Work hard!

Is he here?

Inspector.

A jeweler was paid by a customer

- with a wad of counterfeit bills. - And?

The bills we're looking for.

Does your client have a name?

Don't move.

Police, open up!

Get out of the vehicle! And the young man too!

Yeah, I'm coming...

You don't want to talk to us, Serge?

The attack on the Banque de France van, ring a bell?

5 dead, including 2 gendarmes.

Perrier...

See? This is the gun we found on you.

And a gun,

has a memory.

- I don't know what you're talking about. - A ballistic test

would tell us whether the gun was used in the robbery,

but if you've got nothing to fear,

good for you.

Go fuck yourselves.

If you help us, we'll forget about this gun.

But play smart and you'll end up on the chopping block.

It's up to you.

The cops are coming.

Take the goods. You, burn the rest!

OK, boss.

Let's get out of here!

Grab your plates and your hardware.

Meet me in my car.

Hurry up, quick!

The crates!

The two cans!

Hurry up! Come on, move!

The cops!

Guys, they're here!

Don't move!

You two, stay there!

Come on, quick!

Catch him!

Don't move!

Come on, go ahead. Get in.

One minute.

Jan?

I have great news to tell you.

I'm going to work here, on my own.

When did you decide that?

Well, yesterday.

A guy got hurt again at the lab. We work without protection.

I prefer to work for myself. If you agree, of course.

Anyway, I trust you.

Is it true?

However, we'll have to be careful.

I'm going to work on plastic.

There will be vats at high temperatures.

So, no entering here.

Can we die?

You’ll be careful too?

Of course.

You coming?

The fingerprint analysis turned up nothing.

They don’t match any known criminal.

They’re the printer’s.

Never been jailed or taken into custody.

Either he’s careful, or he’s new at this.

Either way, it’s the same.

Nothing can help us.

So, we close the case?

No. We wait.

A counterfeiter doesn’t change careers.

He’ll get back to work, and when he does,

we’ll be there to catch him.

What’s gotten into you?

I’ve found the invention that’s going to change

- our lives. - Oh, really?

- Will you show it to me? - As soon as it’s ready.

I’m going to need you to type up my patents.

You’ll be proud to call yourself Bojarski.

What’s this invention supposed to do?

Take you dancing!

Every day!

- Bell - No. 131.

Window 2.

Ma'am, do you need help?

Well done, Jan.

Congratulations, Dad.

- It’s beautiful. - Thank you.

I wish you’d been there.

Me too.

Sorry.

Men's place is not in the delivery room.

Well, speak for your husband.

What did I do?

Nothing!

A photo for the album.

Thank you.

1.6 kg. Should I cut off the head?

Yes.

That will be 300 francs.

Allow me. Him, the poultry. Me, the dough.

It's new, this bill.

Oh, really?

- Hello, Mrs. Thouvenot. - Hello.

Your order is ready.

So, 500, 600... and 700.

Thank you.

Wishing you happy holidays.

Merry Christmas.

Sir!

Your chicken!

- I'm dizzy. - Yes!

Come on, goodbye. Thank you!

400, 500... and 500 makes 1,000.

Thanks, Dad!

Thank you.

400... 500...

You're crazy, Bojarski!

He's not here. He's in Paris for his patents.

Does he have a mistress?

- Oh no, Mom. Stop. - What?

- You never really know your husband. - I do.

You don't know exactly what he does for a living.

He's an inventor!

What don't you understand about that?

Whatever you want. Goodbye, darling.

Goodbye.

Mom! Mom! Pierre bumped himself!

Where do I put him, the head of the CID?

Far away from me.

I don't want him to know I'm stuck.

Then what's the point of these dinners?

Go open it.

Fine, I'll put him across from Solange.

Solange?

My colleague from Chanel's press office.

Make an effort, André.

Mr. Perrier.

Sorry, I'll steal him for a minute.

Hurry up. You're not ready.

Printed with the same plates as Scola's.

- Are we sure? - Certain.

But they make their own paper.

The Bank of France is stunned.

Yeah, about damn time.

We're restarting surveillance operations.

Paper makers, informants, printers, the whole lot.

Aline, watch out! Pierre's crying.

Look at this!

You're never there when I need you.

I work all the time for you!

I wish you'd work less and take care of your children.

And that we start going out again!

That's not fair to say.

Leaving me to do everything alone, is that fair?

Here, take your son.

Finish drying up! Pierre's crying.

I need some air.

Where are you going?

To clear my head.

Wait, don't open it!

Pierre is whimpering.

Police!

You're an idiot!

Let me introduce Jackie, we're getting married!

Nice to meet you!

Without any cover-up or bra thing

I love it!

I blushed all the way to my vaccines He saw me naked

It's all in the hips!

Ooh, ooh, ooh. Look at those hips.

Come on, Suzanne!

Show us what you can do.

- Oh, no! - Come on, Suzanne!

- Come on! - Come on.

...thoughtless

I neglected to veil a few little frills

- He saw me naked - All right, sweetheart, you're hired!

I need to ask my husband what he thinks.

Not him. He was raised by Jesuits.

You might be surprised, Dow.

- How's work? - It's fine.

I started my own transport company in Montreuil.

It's doing pretty well.

I hired ex-cons to drive the trucks.

Prisoners?

Aren't they trouble?

No. They get a second chance.

You yourself have become a model citizen.

Exactly.

I got my papers.

I even have my tradesman's card.

You didn't wait for it to make a living.

Did you take me for a Pole?

- There you go. - Thanks.

Here you go.

Until this morning, I wasn't taking those anymore.

- Oh, why? - Too many fakes in circulation.

What changed since this morning?

The Bank of France announced it would reimburse the fakes.

Do you know how much money that'll cost them?

That seems to amuse you.

There is a mistake.

Some are missing.

What is this nonsense?

Be more specific.

The end of the 'Minerve' and 'Hercule'.

We couldn't let all these fakes keep spreading.

We detected more than 200 in one month.

Not counting the ones we missed.

It's costing us a fortune.

Between us, the 'Richelieu' is nothing.

The real new thing...

here it is.

Look at this beauty.

The 'Terre et Mer'.

Impossible to fake.

Is that supposed to cheer me up?

How do I stop my forgers?

The greater good comes first.

Does it turn you on to wage war on me?

Does it make you feel important?

You're not the center of the world.

'The Real Mambo' Ginette Baudin

Woo-hoo!

Damn!

I'm getting old!

Cheers, Jackie.

We won't stay long. I've got work tomorrow.

Tomorrow, it's Sunday!

What's Sunday? I don't even remember.

- Here you go, Jackie. - No, thanks.

- Suzanne. - No, it's too late now.

- You don't like mothballs? - Shh.

Can I pay?

No, Bojarski. Business is good.

Where the hell did I put that damn money?

Damn. This one's for you.

This is for your pretty eyes, and this...

I'll cover the table.

Dow, Dow, Dow, Dow!

People are trying to sleep.

So, is the party going well?

- Come on, let's go. - Move.

Come on, gentlemen!

Hands on the wall, move it and show your papers.

- Where are they? - In your pocket?

- What did they do? - His name?

- Bojarski. - He's not one of ours.

Foreigners with French women, I find that suspicious.

What's suspicious?

Forget it.

Listen to your husband, ma'am.

- Whose money is this? - It's my money.

I'm giving you back your wallet.

- Don't lose your papers. - Thanks.

Ladies, have a good evening.

You're kidding, Dow.

Tomorrow, I'll file a complaint.

No, no.

You're not doing anything.

Are you scared of the police now?

- You wouldn't understand. - Since when?

Listen, Suzanne!

It took me 10 years to get my papers!

I don't want any trouble!

Bojarski, are we working for the cops?

Are you dealing in weapons?

I do what pays. Try it.

Do you know how much it'll cost you if the cops catch you?

Cut the attitude.

You haven't always been clean.

For us, there's only one thing to do,

we have to stay under the radar.

And get exploited to the bone?

- Is that life? - Stop looking at me like that!

I owe you nothing!

You owe me nothing, and I owe you nothing.

I don't want to see you anymore.

There's nothing to understand.

You're putting my family in danger, so get out of my life!

Clear?

Goodbye!

Mr. Minister.

- I'll be right back. - You sure?

Mr. Minister.

Commissioner.

I'll leave you.

The general told me about you, and not in flattering terms.

I need more resources.

You already have 12 officers. Do you know how much that costs us?

Not as much as changing currency.

The police experts think

the counterfeits come from a gang of experts.

Can I be honest?

The gang doesn't matter.

It's the engraver that matters.

If I catch him, I shut down the operation.

If all it takes is catching him, what are you waiting for?

A piece of advice, Mattei.

Spend less time at social events and more behind your desk.

The Earth and the Sea

Where do we put this one?

Looks like an apple.

Yeah, a frosted apple.

No, a bitten apple.

Do we put Santa on it?

Up there? There'll already be a ball.

Can I help you?

I wanted to know.

What?

You know that little shed.

No. You're hiding something from me.

Did you have to come here in the middle of the night?

- Come on. I'll show you around tomorrow. - No.

Tonight.

What are you playing at, Suzanne?

I want to know who I'm living with.

That's a roll-on deodorant.

It's like a pen, but bigger.

- I'm going to patent it. - Stop.

Tell me what you're really doing here.

After you.

Did you steal them?

No, not at all. They're mine.

You wanted to know what I was doing here.

Now you know.

I sell them off, bill by bill.

Day after day.

Each time in a different place in Paris.

Your patents are just hot air?

Everyone doesn't care about a Pollak's inventions.

Since when do you play this?

I don't play.

I was tired of being treated like a nobody.

I couldn't take it anymore, the shame.

And when you rot in prison?

- That won't happen. - Oh, really?

- Why? - I take precautions.

Are you smarter than everyone else?

Yes.

No, but do you hear yourself?

Who do you think you are?

Look.

Mine will be even prettier than the original.

Are you going to keep going?

If I work my ass off,

in a year, I'll have made hundreds.

And what happens to us?

What do you mean?

Did you prefer when we were living off your parents?

Or when I was stuck doing those crappy little jobs?

I never thought you were pathetic.

Suzanne.

Don't let me go.

Here.

It's beautiful!

4 years old. What a big boy.

Do you like it?

Yes.

Blow, darling.

Where is daddy?

He's working.

How do you find it?

'Will be punished with forced labor

those who have counterfeited banknotes.'

Bravo, it reads very well.

Kids, breakfast is ready!

I'm going to get my driver's license.

I'll let you take care of the kids.

Visiting old flames?

I missed chasing after you.

It's important to exercise.

How much time do you have left?

What would you say if I put in a word for you?

You'd gain a few months.

In exchange for what?

What can you tell me about it?

- It's fine work. - And?

What?

You see this petal?

I know.

It's one of the engraver's few mistakes.

The real 'Terre et Mer' has a wilted petal.

It's not a mistake, it's a signature.

Do you have a stem?

Why would he sign his own bills?

To tell the real ones from the fake.

At the risk of drawing attention?

Exactly.

He wants us to recognize his talent.

The copyist wants to do better than the original.

It's not to impress shopkeepers.

Meaning?

You don't know him, but he knows you.

He wants to move you, to stir you.

Your client isn't a crook.

Then what is he?

An artist who makes more from his bills

than you do from investigating him.

And his accomplices just let him do it?

- Who says he has any? - No, impossible.

It takes at least six people to do that.

'General Massu has entered Algiers...'

A marvel, this camera.

'He'll also be up against the FLN

fighting for Algeria's independence.'

Algeria... Can't we find another topic?

You must be loving this.

- He never uses it. - It must've cost a fortune.

Do you sell them for a lot,

- your patents? - Some of them, yes.

'Panic at the Bank of France, which is wondering

'whether the counterfeit bills

'might be the work of the Soviets

'to destabilize our economy,

reveals a source who prefers to remain anonymous.'

Grandpa, what does 'anonymous' mean?

That he wants to stay hidden.

Or it means nobody knows him.

Maybe that's true.

That you're a Russian spy

who wants to destabilize our economy.

Light

Come on, tell me everything.

Are you a Red?

Am I your cover?

I admit it.

On the other hand, I'm a fugitive.

Why?

I turned it down for love.

That's a shame.

Oh, really?

At least, a spy is romantic.

It's loyal to something. It has convictions.

The analyses are conclusive.

To get this result, they mixed

tracing paper and rolling papers.

Fifty-fifty, at a rate of 10 rolling papers per note.

That makes one pack of 100 for 10 notes.

That could empty out every tobacco shop in France.

We analyzed every brand of paper.

- JOB, Zig-Zag, Riz Lacroix... - So what?

He only uses OCB paper.

Come on, gentlemen, help yourselves!

We need to find out where he gets his supplies.

One guy per tobacco shop? We're gonna need to recruit!

Maréchal, you're fired up!

You'll lead the investigation.

Ask OCB whether they've had any stockouts recently.

Then you'll go question the tobacco shop owners involved

one by one.

Understood?

Thank you, sir. Have a good day.

Here are the tobacco shops where a stranger bought

boxes of 100 sheets in the last six months.

They're everywhere.

If our guy is sourcing

all over the country, we're no further ahead.

Ladies and gentlemen, the 1:27 p.m. train to Marseille

will arrive on platform C.

Commissioner Mattei still chasing genius clounterfeiter

Hello?

I didn't think you'd pick up.

Do you often call people...

hoping that they won't answer?

No.

Only when I feel like talking.

I have your work in front of me.

Oh, really?

Your bills are more real than real.

Hats off.

It wasn't easy.

I had to design new machines.

So why did you choose to copy 'Terre et Mer'

instead of 'Richelieu'?

It's more profitable.

Harder, too.

I'm glad you noticed.

On this one, the watermarks are more complex.

The front and back faces have to line up.

And then there's intaglio printing,

with this slightly raised impression.

And the faces of those two women, too.

Their gaze is less direct than on the Richelieu.

They don't stare anyone down.

- May I ask you a question? - Go ahead.

Who are you doing all this for?

Who else would it be for but you?

I'm not your only audience.

What do your accomplices think?

You work alone, don't you?

That must be exhausting, all that traveling.

I'm going to have to leave you now.

I'm warning you.

I'll arrest you in due time.

I'll stop on my own.

No.

You'll never stop...

because you don't do this for the money, do you?

Sorry, sir. We're closing.

Yes, I'm coming right away.

Identity check. Please show your papers.

Ladies and gentlemen, show your papers!

- Come on, move along. - Your papers, please.

- Identity check! - Your papers.

Go ahead.

Please, your papers. Thank you.

Good.

Your papers, please.

Show your papers!

Open your suitcase.

Ladies and gentlemen, show your papers!

You!

Stop him!

Move along.

Dad.

Can Sophie come over for a sleepover Saturday?

Sophie who?

Sophie, my best friend since primary school!

I've told you about her a hundred times!

I don't want you inviting people over to the house.

I'm doing well in school. Why are you punishing me?

Lower your voice, please.

Nobody comes over, and you're never here!

I work so you can have a better life than I did at your age.

And what kind of life did you have?

What did your parents do?

There's nothing to know!

It's like your job! What's the last thing

you invented? The last thing

let me buy you that TV!

I don't care! I want to see real people!

You've already lost your friends.

Do you want to lose your children too?

Why do you keep going?

For the past two months, he's only been sourcing in the south of France.

It started in Nice, then Cannes, Toulon, Marseille.

Then he went back up to Lyon.

- He's methodical. - Too much so.

Look, after Lyon, he turned off toward Grenoble.

- Thanks to the rail network. - He's less careful.

If he keeps this up, he'll soon be in...

He's coming.

He called the owner yesterday to check his stock.

- What if he goes to another tobacco shop? - Impossible.

He's methodical.

You okay, Legal?

No. Can you cover for me, please?

- Sure. - Thanks.

She's now on the rail,

while in last place, there's Nimble Boy.

OK, that's a good start!

- Come on! - Come on!

Gérard, a Bastos, please.

TV commentary A Bastos...

- That'll be 10. - Gérard,

can you get us another round?

- My pleasure. - That's kind, thanks.

- That's good! That's good! - Yes!

Come on, run! Run!

Come on!

Come on!

Come on, pretty girl!

Come on, run!

What is he doing, Maréchal?

Vomiting Oh, oh!

- Don't mind me! - Sorry, I'm sick.

Sir?

I called and ordered OCB rolling papers with you.

Oh, it's you? I'll go get your order.

No, Roc Épine!

Oh!

Perrier, let's go.

Police!

In the restroom.

No way!

Have the fingerprints lifted.

And call the sketch artist.

He won't be here until tomorrow.

So what? Do you have a better idea?

Excuse me, is the 10:12 p.m. train to Paris,

is it on this platform?

No, it's canceled. Tomorrow, at 7:15.

Thanks.

- Good morning. - With the DIY fair,

we're usually fully booked.

Thank you, sir.

Ah, Mr. Mattei. Your taxi is booked for tomorrow.

Thanks.

Give us 10 minutes. We'll take care of your luggage.

Can you let me know when room 23 is ready?

- Good evening. A vodka. - Certainly, sir.

Good evening, sir.

Do you have a light?

Are you the one we see in the newsreels?

The counterfeiting commissioner?

It's been a long time since anyone recognized me.

My glory days are behind me.

To the glory days, then.

What do you do for a living, sir...

Brabin. Maurice Brabin.

I'm a sales rep for DIY tools.

I'm here for tomorrow's trade show.

I can't even hammer in a nail.

Are you handy?

A little.

And how does one become a tool salesman?

My dream was to become an engineer.

I would be one today, if I'd stayed in Poland.

But 'Brabin'...

Brabinski.

I had to Frenchify my name to find work.

Please.

Yes, sir.

Are you in Vichy for work or for a spa treatment?

Do I look like I'm here for a spa treatment?

So, work then.

Are you on the trail of a counterfeiter?

Forgive me. I love crime stories.

I'm subscribed to 'Détective' magazine.

You've got to pass the time on tour.

I did have a lead, yes.

And?

I was this close to arresting him.

8 years I've been tracking the same guy.

8 years of floundering and ruining my career.

Even my wife can't stand me anymore.

Do you talk about your work to your wife?

Don't you?

Me, drills and screwdrivers, that doesn't interest many people.

Whereas you...

I'm not exactly a role model.

Two divorces...

three marriages...

Until your next arrest.

I'm not the one who deserves pity most.

Oh, yeah?

Can you imagine?

Making masterpieces without being able to tell anyone.

It's like being the ghostwriter for a Goncourt prize.

In his place, it would eat me up inside.

Maybe not him.

Oh, yes.

How do you know?

I'm starting to figure the guy out.

Lighter clicking

Well... I've bothered you enough.

It's on me.

Are you sure?

It bothers me.

You're going to offend me.

Thanks for the conversation.

I was in a talkative mood tonight.

One second.

Get out!

Stop!

I don't want to see you anymore! Do you hear me?

- Never again! - Stop!

Here, the Dauphine. It was to celebrate your license.

Has it been long?

Do you love him?

Answer me.

- Do you love him? - Let go of me.

It's been 2 years since you promised me you'd quit.

The 2 years are up, and nothing has changed.

I can't keep fearing that the cops will show up.

I'm almost there, Suzanne.

Give me a little time.

Stop treating me like an idiot!

You'll never stop, so leave me alone!

Stop! Stop!

Stop that.

Stop. Stop.

Stop.

Stop.

Stop.

Stop!

The fingerprints match those found 10 years ago

with the Tractions gang.

What do we do? Do we air it?

To risk him disappearing?

No. We keep this to ourselves.

In a few months, we'll carry out a gradual transition

to the new franc.

Our experts have created a new generation

of banknotes that are virtually impossible to forge.

Good. Thank you. Jacques, I'll let you take it from here.

Thank you, Director.

Our engineers redesigned the paper

by incorporating new patterns

and brand-new watermark designs.

This new intaglio-printed note

is shorter than the Richelieu. The Bank of France...

Sir. Sir!

I beg your pardon.

My Bonaparte is better than the Bank of France's. Tell them to employ me.

Don't worry. It's over.

The pain comes and goes.

I'm used to it.

Yeah. And how long has she been gone?

My pain?

No, Suzanne.

A year, almost.

And you think she'll come back?

If it helps, I've lost everything.

Jackie, my job, my company...

I owe money to all of Paris.

I don't even know who to turn to.

Oh shit!

Bojarski, what did you do?

Is that why Suzanne left?

Suzanne couldn't take that double life anymore.

And you, could you handle that double life?

How much do you need to get back on your feet?

Oh... around... 10,000.

Here.

- No need to pay me back. - I can't just take that.

- I didn't say 'for nothing'. - Right.

- I need you. - Did you understand what I was doing here?

Well, France didn't want us,

so you went after its money.

Rule No. 1:

no more than one note per shop.

One business, one note, one street.

Rule No. 2: nothing flashy.

Forget the cars, the clothes.

Rule No. 3: discretion.

Don't change your habits.

Good thing, I don't have any habits.

Hi, Dad.

You could kiss me.

I'm late.

Ah, Jan.

The spitting image of her mother at that age.

I wish you courage.

What are you talking about now?

I'll leave you.

Pierre, get ready, your father is here.

It's fine!

How are you?

My mother is driving me crazy,

but I'm seeing an apartment tomorrow.

Have you seen the doctor?

He says it's stress, overwork.

I wanted to tell you...

I'm going to quit.

I had to start over from scratch for the Bonaparte,

but in a year, it'll be over.

I promise you.

I dreamed that you got arrested.

I was almost relieved.

And you, behind bars, you were proud.

I'll never go to prison.

Even if the police find me,

no engraver at the Bank of France can match me.

Pierre, hurry up!

Hey, what happened to you?

Some big kid called me a Polack at school.

Will you bring him back tonight?

Yeah, yeah.

You'll tell me about it.

Jan.

I'm still waiting for you to sign the divorce papers.

It's my math homework, I can't do it.

I wasn't that bad at math at your age.

Fractions, I don't get them at all.

Yeah, but it also depends on how it's explained to you.

That's Mr. Zulawski.

When he talks, it sounds like Latin.

Ah, the Poles...

Well...

So... Can you read me the heading?

'A gardener plants geraniums

'around the circular edge...'

So, are we moving?

You pay back everything in 3 days!

- You understand? - Yeah, okay!

Holy shit.

- What happened to you? - This? A jealous husband did it.

I worked hard.

With one fake Bonaparte in the horse race, I got three real ones.

Not bad, huh?

Oh, yeah?

You have 5 bills to move a day, you make 25 francs per bill.

Do you know many jobs that pay this well?

No.

- Isn't that enough for you? - Yes. Is there a problem?

You were supposed to give me 8,000 new francs.

There's 7,500 in small bills

and 300 with the Bonapartes. That makes 8,000.

You're short 300. Come on.

- Read the bill numbers. - No.

Read it!

39320 V60... yeah.

Read the numbers.

39320 V60... they're the same.

Of course, since I made them!

No, it's the tobacconist... That's enough now!

Stop treating me like an idiot!

You think I can't spot my own fakes?

Wait, please. I screwed up, I won't do it again.

I need that money.

Let's take a break. I'll call you back.

Yes, hello? Yes, speaking.

I was expecting your call.

Exactly.

Understood. Thank you.

Next!

I'd like... I'd like 10 Treasury bonds.

Of course.

Hello, miss. I'm being rude.

Is there a problem?

I don't have enough anymore.

Wait a minute.

I'm coming.

- Is it okay? - It's okay.

I have four. The manager confirmed it to me,

I'll have more tomorrow morning.

I'll come back later.

There you go, thanks...

- Wait, sir, your money. - Oh, shit...

Here.

- Thank you. - Goodbye, sir.

Is this how the counterfeiter moves his bills?

- Possible. - That would be clever.

Careless, above all. And new.

If he'd been doing that from the start,

we'd have locked him up long ago.

You know what that means, Perrier?

That he's not working alone anymore.

He hired someone

and that someone isn't playing by the rules.

We've been waiting 15 years for that slip-up.

All right, have a good day.

What are you doing?

We're almost done.

- Want us to give you a demo? - Yes, of course.

What are you working on?

- Dad's new invention. - It's yours.

A single-dose coffee machine.

In a packet, you put

- a dose of ground coffee... - You slide it into the machine,

the water heats up...

It passes through the packet, which acts as a filter.

And then you throw it away.

One dose, one coffee.

You got back to your inventions?

Good accounts make good friends.

Hands up!

- Hello? - They've spotted me! Move!

Don't move!

Who are you on the phone with?

Don't hang up!

Who was that?

No one.

A wrong number.

Shall we continue?

If you want us to take you to the hospital,

you tell us who you work for.

I work alone.

A genius like you, I doubt it.

I don't care if you believe me...

He's screaming. Damn it!

If you talk,

you fall under Article 138 of the Penal Code.

It says that anyone who reports a counterfeiter

can get an exculpatory excuse.

Does that mean anything to you?

- No. - In plain English, if you talk,

you avoid hard labor and prison.

So...

is that true?

I don't go around carrying the Penal Code.

You'll have to take my word for it.

Then untie me, and after that, we'll talk.

Alright, Pierre. Ready to go?

Oh no, Mom. Five more minutes.

It worked, we did it!

We did it.

Jan Ceslaw Bojarski?

Yes.

You are under arrest.

What makes me think it's real?

- Where are you going? - I'm going home.

How long have you been married?

It's been 20 years,

but we haven't lived together for a year.

You're claiming that in 20 years minus 1 year,

you never saw a thing?

Who are you to say what needed to be seen?

So?

- Nothing so far. - Go back up, search everywhere.

Tear the house apart if you have to.

Yes, sir.

Untie him.

I'll find it.

You know I'm going to find it!

No, I don't know anything at all.

It's probably just another one of your false leads.

What's that?

A state-of-the-art coffee machine.

Want to try it?

I didn't dare ask.

One dose, one coffee.

The perfect dose.

You've already got the ad slogan.

I'm an inventor.

Doesn't seem very economical to me.

Maybe, but it's practical and really good.

Here.

I'll have a jackhammer brought in

or do we settle this like civilized people?

Who helped you to rig all this up?

No one.

My wife had nothing to do with it.

Swear to me she'll be fine, and I'll tell you everything.

- Commissioner, please! - Please, for Paris Match!

Commissioner!

Madam, please!

Please step back.

- Back up, back up! - One more.

No, not the family.

It's there.

Come on.

I have bad news.

The Bank of France refused to hire me?

The USA and the USSR wanted your services,

but the general vetoed it.

He didn't like a Pole doing better than his Frenchmen.

If you'd told me that one day de Gaulle would know me...

I really sweated over that one.

I thought the gaze looked lifeless.

Yours does have more sparkle, that's true.

I tried to improve the original a bit.

Page 10, they're talking about you.

300 new ones that lead to prison.

In the history of counterfeir money we'll call a Bojarski like a Cézanne.

The Court and jury decide by absolute majority

to convict Bojarski Jan Ceslaw to 20 years in prison

and order the seizure and destruction

of all the banknotes he has counterfeited.

Mingled journalists' voices

How do you feel?

Eh...

I'm almost a celebrity here.

Outside too, you know?

The neighbors still haven't gotten over it.

Your mother neither, I imagine.

You were the one who was right.

I should've stopped earlier.

Here.

I signed them.

I'm sorry it took me so long.

You see, Bojarski...

I'd rather these ones were fake.

I'm going to stay here for a very long time.

Listen.

Go out on the terrace...

In 14 years Bojarski amassed the equivalent of 5 million euros

After 13 years in prison he was set free for good behaviour. He went back to his wife for the rest of his life.

Commissioner Mattei died of a heart attack in 1992. He never again had to deal with an opponent as brilliant as Bojarski.

By order of the Chief of Police concrete was poured into the workshop to bury all the equipment.

And now, the highlight of the auction...

a genuine fake banknote, a Bojarski,

nicknamed 'the Cézanne of counterfeit money'.

For this Bonaparte-period Bojarski,

considered his masterpiece, 1,000 euros.

I have a bidder at 1,000 euros. 1,100...

1,200, 1,300, 1,400, 1,500...

2,000, 2,100, 2,200, 2,300... 2,400, 2,500... 3,000...

3,500... 4,000... 4,500...