Original subtitles

A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES

Based on true events

I was never a violent man.

I never wanted to kill anyone.

I lose my temper sometimes, like everyone.

But to go that far?

When I saw how angry I was, I got scared.

But it was too late.

My name is Alain Delambre.

I was what they call a "senior".

On the job market, a senior is the last guy you hire

and the first one you fire when there are lay-offs.

My lay-off was six years ago.

Good morning.

- Good morning, Mr. President. - Good morning.

Good morning.

Exxya: new setback for French group

EXXYA LOSES ITS WAY

...cooperation in the area of sustainable development

has been mentioned

in the run-up to the next European summit,

which should lead to new partnerships

with this country of 1.3 billion people.

Your financial pages are all taken up with the setback

of aerospace manufacturer Exxya France.

The US's Connel-Evans was chosen over the French group

and awarded a large South African contract.

The French manufacturer's setback is a bombshell.

The finance ministry...

Inspired by Inhuman Resources by Pierre Lemaître

Pretty late for a card game.

It's only twice a week.

And we had so much fun.

Good.

I was losing my benefits,

I had to take small jobs.

You have to add the word "small" because of the pay.

I was working nights for 585 euros, gross pay.

You say "gross" because of deductions.

Nicole and I bought this apartment 27 years ago.

Our daughters were born and grew up here.

We had three more years of mortgage,

we weren't sure we'd make it.

It broke my heart.

I was laid off as we were fitting a new kitchen.

The workers had just ripped out the old one.

Our existence resembled our kitchen.

For the 20th?

Of the next month. I'm waiting for the follow-up.

For the insurance?

- It's just a reminder. - What's the difference?

- We have an extra week to pay it. - Right!

With a debit balance, we gain three weeks.

Very reassuring!

Well...

see you tonight.

I was an HR manager for 25 years.

Now I'm poor.

After my lay-off I went from denial to doubt.

And guilt, obviously.

But after 6 years of unemployment,

condemned to lousy jobs, constant humiliation,

and the fear of losing the apartment, I reached a sort of cold anger.

Like a raging terrorist.

That wasn't a good sign.

- Good morning. - Hi, I'm here to see Mr. Dorfmann.

I'm Bertrand Lacoste.

Just a moment, please.

Hello?

Mr. Lacoste for Mr. Dorfmann.

Yes.

- He's expecting you. - Thanks.

- He's waiting for you, Mr. Lacoste. - Thank you.

You want to test your executives in a hostile environment?

No, that's already been done.

Sorry?

They're used to extreme situations.

It's their job.

I've checked them. All four are very good.

I'm sure, but...

What I want is the best one.

You get my point?

Yes.

The one we choose will run the Beauvais factory.

Once there he'll fire a thousand people,

in a region with a fragile economy and unions on edge.

It's a powder keg.

And they won't just be burning tires. Those days are over.

The workers will want to blow things up, set the factory on fire

then they'll threaten to lynch the guy...

I hear you...

And I get offered crap like a trek in the North Pole?

One guy proposed making them homeless, outside on the sidewalk

with twenty euros and see how they manage for a week.

It's ridiculous. Useless!

It might be fun for a TV show, but no way.

We have to test their resistance to real violence.

I understand perfectly, Mr. President.

You want to know if they'll put their own safety

before their loyalty to the company.

- Am I right? - Exactly.

You want a situation

that's sudden, brutal and extreme,

so the person you choose

will always act in the interest of the company.

Am I correct?

I suggest a hostage taking.

Hi, Charles.

All good?

How many hours have you done this week?

I can't remember.

I've only done ten, I think.

I get the feeling they call me less.

I work much better than you.

Let's go, bunch of pussies!

Quick!

Need a hand with that box?

What are you looking at? Deal with the invoices!

What's his problem?

This isn't a holiday camp!

Need help? Want me to count for you?

Do you want a coffee?

You piss me off!

Tony! You're taking hours!

Having a nap?

I can't hear you! Move it!

I'm not doing it for you!

What are you looking at?

Lazy bastards!

Delambre.

You hear me?

Delambre! Are you doing this on purpose?

Mehmet, hey!

Fuck!

Shit!

Shit, Alain!

Shit!

What have you done?

Have you tried this type of re-enactment before?

No, it'll be a first, Mr. President.

But in terms of staff evaluation,

we're at the cutting edge.

I can see that! How will it work?

You call your executives for a meeting.

An armed unit bursts in,

takes them hostage and interrogates them.

They'll realize their company is in danger.

We check where their loyalty lies: their safety or their company.

What sort of questions?

Industrial espionage,

acquisitions, hostile takeovers, restructuring plans...

We'll pick the one who protects sensitive information

or the one who gives up irrelevant secrets

to protect the important ones.

The problem is that secrecy isn't my concern.

The person I send to Beauvais

will face an extremely hostile and violent situation.

It's not an interview for an elite school.

No, but the armed unit and the weapons will be realistic.

It will be extreme, I assure you.

We'll really shake them up.

I want them to show their true face.

We'll strip them naked.

Who'll do the interrogations?

Your HR asked us to find them a hiring manager.

We have several candidates, all very good.

And since their job is to hire, I propose

they do the interrogation.

Two birds with one stone!

You get the best recruiter and the best executive.

You're always creative, that's good.

- I want a detailed report. - Very well.

No copies, I want the original.

I don't want to see you here. I'll come to you.

I want no records.

No photos or videos.

We'll find a way to take their phone.

- Of course. - I want no leaks.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

You've become so aggressive.

- Yeah? - Yes.

Let me see.

I understand.

Sitting around, unemployment... It gets to you.

Sitting around?

That's not the first thing that comes to mind.

I get up at five to get my ass kicked!

I get it!

Sorry.

You think they'll let it go?

All I did was bust his nose.

Two days in hospital. He's not dead!

- What does Charles think? - Same as me.

He'll testify that Mehmet kicked my ass. Case closed.

I have something for you.

Look.

"European company seeks recruiter. Experience required in...

human resources."

Come on, Nicole!

You weren't fired because you weren't good.

You were very competent.

They just got rid of everyone over 50. It's not the same thing.

I've answered loads of ads: I only got one interview and that was the first year.

I'm no longer in the game. You know that.

Hi, Mom.

- All right? - Yeah.

Here.

Thank you.

- All right? - Hi, Grégory. How about you?

Fine.

Hi, Dad.

- All right, sweetie? - Yes.

- What happened? - Nothing.

What's up, old man? Can't stand up straight?

- Hi, Dad. - All right, sweetheart?

I'm good.

- You hurt yourself? - It's nothing.

Here.

They should be good.

Hi.

Hi.

He's finally started training again.

- Here are some chocolates. - Lovely!

- And how are you keeping. - Fine... How about you?

We pretended not to notice but when the girls came over,

one brought the dessert and wine, the other, the cheese and starters.

I wondered if one would slip some cash,

like in a brothel.

He sued the IRS for making him pay for the stamp.

- Did he win? - They're waiting for the verdict.

Again. A first-year law student sued his school.

- He was cut out for the law! - Yeah.

He argued that the increase in tuition fees was unjustified

because it didn't match the student's loan.

And he won! It took him two years but he won.

Unbelievable, huh?

I find that worrisome.

You can't just sue everyone. This isn't America.

All I'm saying is nothing should stop you from winning.

Win what?

What do you mean?

He spent two years in court and won what? 20 euros?

30 euros?

Alain means it wasn't worth it.

I can speak for myself.

It's reassuring, Nicole. You can win even if you're vulnerable.

Peaceful coexistence is better than suing.

The lawyer's talking?

It may surprise you, but my job is to settle disputes

so that people don't sue.

That's a funny one!

You're a banker, you suck people dry.

Living in peace isn't your thing.

- I'm a credit manager, not a banker. - Spare me.

What I mean is that...

even if you're a nobody,

you can still sue.

Even if there's no salt in the stew.

Well that would be a bit far-fetched, wouldn't it?

But it's the principle.

It's your principle that pisses me off!

- It's bullshit. - You're wrong.

It shows you can overcome anything if you have the will.

- Will? - Yes.

If I haven't worked in six years it's because I have no will?

We have a surprise.

- The apartment? - Yes, we signed yesterday.

I'm so happy for you.

630,000. We brought the price down.

The lady showed us around,

Mathilde was like: "Oh, wow!"

- Stop it! - You were!

Yes, yes!

I was acting unimpressed.

"It's not very bright, the bedrooms are small..."

The lady finally said:

"Someone else is interested."

So I said:

"Fine we're off to another one."

I walk away.

- Mathilde went nuts. - Stop it!

It's not true, you're silly.

But can you afford it? It's a lot of money.

We have 50,000 for deposit. We'll borrow the rest.

Your job comes in handy!

I have connections.

Do your clients have connections too or do they just get fucked?

Dad...

My kids buy an apartment and I'm losing mine, it's depressing.

It's no excuse for being mean.

Me, mean?

You were downright nasty with Gregory.

I admit, I was in good shape.

Why don't you just give him a break?

Why did she pick such an asshole?

It's her choice, stay out of it.

Her choice? He's a dick!

How does she put up with him?

I put up with you.

Am I that awful?

Let's not even go there.

I'm a pain?

You're unbearable, Alain.

Nicole and I've been married for 30 years.

Whatever she does, she's wonderful.

A woman touched by grace.

At times

all I wanted was to fuck her, like when we first met.

But with my depression I couldn't get a hard on.

But you get the idea.

Losing that deal was bad news.

Share price down 2.3% yesterday, 3.2% last week.

The shareholders want answers.

Right.

Cousin.

Our drop in competitivity is costing us a lot.

To shareholders mostly, but it could end up costing everyone.

If that's a threat, please state it clearly.

- Are you threatening me? - Yes. You're the group's CEO.

You have answers to give, and deal with the consequences.

Very well. Remember,

when I took over as Exxya's CEO,

the first thing I said

was that we were 10 years behind.

So I asked you to approve an ambitious project

to robotize the entire factory in Beauvais.

A project that'll be extended

to all of Exxya's subsidiaries within the next ten years.

Alexandre, no one is contesting your foresight or your decisions.

The thing is that the shareholders won't wait ten years.

They'd be wrong because in less than three years

Exxya shares will be selling for 400% more than today.

The smart ones will win.

You're right. But they need to trust us for the next three years...

How many will be laid off at Beauvais?

1,250.

I want to move faster

and do it in one year instead of two.

They're dumber than bankers.

Thanks for your performance: you did great back there.

But it'll be harder than I thought.

- Maréchal? - Obviously.

He has the minister's ear. He has me on an ejection seat.

Is that why you've gone up from 1,000 to 1,250?

Yeah, but it won't be enough.

Beauvais will be a social volcano.

To carry out your plan we'll need someone solid.

As you imagine, I've taken care of that.

Here, this is for you.

Please sign.

- What is it? - You're done here.

Sorry, you can't.

Gross misconduct, legal action...

I was fired.

They said I violated the corporate hierarchy,

and shaken the social order.

Management says that breaking rules is for decision-makers only.

I turned the tables and they didn't like that.

HIRING MANAGER

It'll be a very professional hostage taking.

Whoever makes it will be the one.

The weekend of the 17th.

Perfect.

Here are the candidates for the interrogations. All very good.

HR manager/Hiring manager

We'll test their knowledge, then interview them.

We'll end up with five.

They're real pros.

They'll put the pressure on your executives.

This guy looks ancient, how do you explain that?

24 years of experience in a tough company,

laid off because of his age, but he's good.

He'd surprise you.

This game will get you the best person for Beauvais

and the best hiring manager.

Set it up, then.

- Thank you, Mr. President. - Thanks.

We need to fire 1,250 employees. That's two out of three.

- But it was 1,000! - Things change.

- Any comments? - It's harsh.

Harsh but unavoidable.

There's a crisis, everyone will understand.

Does that include the 1,250?

We're going to have to speed it up. We need it done in six months.

That's...

very tight.

Alexandre, six months is extremely difficult.

If it's "extremely difficult" then it's not impossible.

You convinced me.

You have six months.

Fuck, three years in jail!

45,000 euros fine!

I don't believe it!

Hi Charles, it's Alain.

You're home?

What's wrong? A problem?

The job at Autofix: I'm suspended for a week.

Is it going to stop there?

It's not funny, Alain.

We have enough problems as it is.

It's nothing, they suspended me, standard procedure.

Shit!

- They accepted my application. - What?

They've given me an appointment for a test.

This is... great news.

Let me see.

Whatever!

- I don't stand a chance. - You don't know that.

At my age, after a six-year gap...

Alain, how many people do you think have applied?

Maybe 300.

Right: and how many were short-listed?

About 15.

So you made the 15 without them looking at your CV or noticing your age?

They made a mistake? They picked the 15 CVs randomly?

Stop it.

They can read, Alain.

And they gave you an appointment.

This is crazy.

Hello.

I'm here for the test.

Yes, go see my colleague.

Thank you.

Hello.

Alain Delambre.

Yes, Mr. Delambre. Olenka Zbikowski.

Come with me, please.

Our client is looking for a hiring manager.

I'll leave you with Olenka and wish you all good luck.

Thank you.

HR HIRING Knowledge test

(1) Which of the following statements is correct?

Are you okay?

I only answered one in three questions.

You tried.

You think I did it just to try?

Just for a laugh?

- Does it make you laugh? - Why do you say that?

You show me job ads when you know I'm finished!

- No, you're not. - "It'll be fine."

All you do is hold my head under water!

I'm trying to help you, honey.

Well done, it helps!

Everyone's kicking my ass, now you're doing it too!

PHONE SALES

- Hello? - Mrs. Gilson? Alain Delambre.

Yes, Mr. Delambre.

Your former employer is taking legal action.

We're asking for 100,000 in damages.

It was self-defense!

- Doesn't look like it. - What the hell do you know?

Were you there?

A witness disputes your account.

So what? I have a witness too!

Ours is Charles Bresson. Who's yours?

Charles?

Now it's up to the court to decide.

Sorry.

- Shall we go? - Yes.

This is Charles, leave a message.

Charles, please call me back.

I've been out of work for years, I'll never recover from a fine.

- You should have thought about that. - 100,000 is insane!

- The judge may well go in my favor. - Do you have any idea?

I'm 57 years old, working for 500 a month.

- Don't get angry. - I am angry! 100,000 euros!

Why not 1/2 million! Or one million!

I'll sell my apartment, make my wife turn tricks

and play the accordion in the subway! Is that what you want?

How much do you earn, bitch?

Do you get paid double when a homeless guy shoots himself?

I went to law school with Gilson. She's a bitch.

A bitch? What kind?

Family of lawyers, filthy rich. Money everywhere.

Talking of money, she's suing for 100,000 in damages.

Apparently, she has a witness.

I'll be frank, Dad, it's not good.

But 100,000 is a negotiating base.

I'll look into past cases and see where it goes.

Don't tell your mother.

Things are already bad, no need to scare her.

Dad, she's not the only one scared.

- You've never been very calm, but... - But what?

You've become hard to be around.

You headbutt your foreman, and with Grégory...

Grégory's an asshole!

He's part of the family.

You bring up the family when it suits you.

Otherwise you don't care.

Dad, please calm down.

Promise me.

What time do you call this?

Sorry if I have to work!

You could have called.

Since I piss everyone off!

Everyone told me I was brave

for trying to find work

even though I had no chance.

I had nothing to be proud of.

It was just a basic instinct.

I looked for work like dogs piss on lampposts.

I had no illusions, I just couldn't stop myself.

Is it Dad?

He's always on the edge.

Anything sets him off.

He's depressed.

Yeah, well... so am I!

He makes me depressed.

It's hard.

So hard.

Nicole.

- Hello, sweetie. - Hello, Dad.

Where's mom?

Nicole?

I passed the test, they want me for an interview.

What?

"I have the pleasure to inform you that you passed the test..."

This is... great!

This can't be! Something's not right.

- Like what? - I don't know. I didn't answer anything!

You don't know how the others did.

No, but... still!

What?

A one-to-one interview.

That's what you do best!

- It's amazing. - Things are finally looking up.

I'm proud of you.

- Mr. Delambre, how are you? - Very well, thanks.

Mr. Lacoste is coming.

Mr. Delambre, I'm happy to see you.

All right? Not too nervous?

Looking for work is tough.

- Tough, but honorable. - True.

Your family must be pleased. Am I right?

Come this way.

I convinced them to return to work.

Production was only halted for 24 hours.

How's your English?

A bit of a polish and it'll be fine.

Okay.

And the company that's hiring?

That's confidential.

All I can tell you is it's a cutting-edge sector and in northern France.

Anything else?

- One thing worries me. - Tell me.

I worked all my life in a mid-size company.

Hiring me in a European company...

No, international.

Doesn't that seem out of proportion?

You were an HR manager in a company with 70 employees: now, that was hard.

If you can do that, you can do it all.

I've done my research, you were very efficient.

Medium to big company is only a question of scale.

But both you and I must be able to make a difference.

You for the employers and me for my clients.

It's this way. After you, please.

I wonder about being hired, for a man my age.

I've been straight with you. There won't be many of you,

all with different profiles.

Your age is a drawback, yes, but...

your experience is a real asset.

My client wants young graduates. I'll give him some.

He doesn't expect a candidate like you.

That's where I'll surprise him.

You're my joker, Mr. Delambre.

- After five years it'll do you good. - Six.

It's the end of the tunnel. Your life's back on track.

You'll be five, put to a test.

Our client needs to evaluate some executives.

Your task is to conduct this evaluation test.

You'll be chosen for your ability to evaluate.

All right.

A test?

Role-playing.

Okay.

We'll simulate a hostage situation.

There'll be an armed unit, weapons loaded with blanks, of course,

and cameras to film their reactions.

- And the hostages will be... - Interrogated.

Separately.

You'll conduct the interrogations.

Okay, but...

interrogated about what?

That's your job, Mr. Delambre.

You have to grill them, terrorize them,

since you're terrorists,

and push them to betray their company.

What's the goal?

To find out who's the toughest.

Those who crack get dumped.

Okay.

Are you hesitant?

No. Not at all.

I'm ready.

"You're my joker." Do you believe that?

Incredible!

"It's the end of the tunnel, Mr. Delambre."

We'll be able to keep the apartment.

You think so?

I passed the first tests, I'll nail the last one.

What sort of role-playing?

I'm not sure, the usual thing, I guess.

The candidates carry out a plan

and get evaluated for their drive and team spirit.

But isn't it a bit weird? They're evaluating executives,

I expected something more sophisticated. No?

Look, Nicole, you'll have to help me.

To increase my chances,

I need to know what the company is.

He said northern France, hi-tech...

If you know someone who could find out...

If they're testing their best executives

it's for a strategic reason.

I'll find out.

I need you, Nicole.

Fuck, I'm so happy!

It was incredible.

I felt like God flipped the switch the right way.

I'd be the man Nicole had loved again.

This job was a miracle and I'd re-unite with my soulmate.

How many of you live here?

With the new family and the math student,

there must be...

maybe ten cars.

Look, I had a moment of weakness.

Don't worry about it.

Autofix pressured me like hell.

But I refused to sign their fucking letter.

So the assholes fired me.

Shit!

Yeah, but... so what, eh?

Don't say that.

What will you do?

Well...

Some hotline work and an offer to develop a phone app.

I said no but I'll do it.

Sit down.

I feel bad asking but I need a favor.

Of course. How can I help?

I may work as a hiring manager for a big company.

Is that right?

That's great!

With your IT skills, can you get into the company's system?

Find out who my rivals are?

You mean hack?

Me? Never!

Here.

Exxya France.

Yes.

Civil and military aviation.

A top manager, that's 35,000 euros a month!

- Yep. - Where did you find that?

A former colleague at the chamber of commerce.

Is the info solid?

It comes from high up.

It's very confidential.

You don't look that excited. Don't you realize?

Look... everything you see there they're going to scrap.

They decided to robotize the factory. For them "modern" equals "profit".

It's urgent and they're panicking.

Look.

They lost a huge contract. There. See?

They have to restructure quickly so they're testing their executives.

Firing two thirds of the workforce will make waves.

They need someone tough to do that.

I don't understand this role-playing thing.

In order to select a tough guy,

they're coming up with a scheme like for supermarket managers.

Does that make sense?

It's obvious, yes, but...

You want to join a company that'll fire 1,000 employees?

Maybe more.

They'll fire them, it's ugly, but they might give me a job. Do you get that?

What bothers me is that you're helping them do the dirty work.

Exxya starts the year with a grim outlook

You've got five rivals for the job.

There's him...

Marc Lioret.

PhD in law, 15 years in major groups.

If they're all like that, I'm screwed.

This one took upper management classes.

He doesn't take classes,

he teaches them!

Forget it, Charles.

Next to them, I'm dead. It's a done deal!

No, Alain, don't worry about those guys.

Focus on the executives.

Find out stuff about them, their weaknesses, and you'll win.

It's not the most qualified who'll win, it's the most informed.

I need to know who the executives are who'll be the hostages,

dig dirt up on them, find their flaws...

Right.

But I don't know the first thing about taking hostages.

Will they use actors with fake guns? Ex-soldiers? I don't know.

I got into BLC Consulting's system.

I found Lacoste's schedule but...

What's that?

"Meeting H.T. team"?

H.T.?

Could be "hostage taking".

Could be.

Yeah... could be.

Could be!

Let's find out who the executives are.

I'd passed the tests, I was the recruiter's joker,

now I had to be the most competent.

Evaluate four executives and toss three out of the window!

That was what I had to do.

Novelist seeks advice...

for research about hostage ops.

Hiring now. Experience required.

Exxya wanted very determined people.

They wouldn't find more determined than me!

And now that I was on board,

their troubles were about to begin.