Original subtitles

He's coming.

OK.

Get ready. I'm on my way.

How can you paint such a mess? You might as well leave it all white.

Where are you?

In front of the white painting.

Wrong painting! It's the red one!

What? Fuck!

Police!

Drop your weapon!

Drop it.

Don't be stupid, drop it. I said drop it!

You said white!

On a red background!

All this for a daub!

- It's worth ?200,000! - What?

You need to learn about art.

Calm down.

I'm on him!

Not that way, ma'am.

What a crap job! Stop!

Can't you see art is disappearing!

- We must save it! - Shut up!

I didn't know art drove people loopy.

THE ART OF CRIME

Sorry, I can't see it.

Second-rate craftsmanship,

no signature...

It's barely worth ?10,000.

- We've been offered ?100,000. - What?

Either your buyer is mad

or in love with Anne of Brittany. Or both.

Sell it before he changes his mind, it'll pay for a new roof.

Apart from that, is Mr Senior Curator happy here?

Yes.

Well, it's like most museums.

Quiet.

I prefer to work alone.

I don't need an art expert to catch a thief!

But you do. This isn't Crime Squad.

Your job is works of art, so get used to it.

Look, a thief's a thief, whether he robs a bank or a museum!

Antoine, look on the bright side.

You'll investigate theft in fabulous places

like galleries, museums, castles!

Better than a gory crime scene that makes you want to vomit.

Yeah.

Good night.

Night, everyone!

Hello.

Captain Verlay.

Thanks.

- Hello. - Hello, Captain.

Thank you.

Well?

Christian Lambert, 39.

Looks like he stole the painting and was attacked as he came out.

What time?

Forensics reckon between 10pm and midnight.

Hello.

He must have been hit over there.

Stabbed 3 times, hitting the liver and lungs.

He had time to crawl here.

He must have been heading for the exit.

Why did he change direction?

Pardon?

The trail veers off.

It looks like he tried to rotate.

Rotate? Where?

I've no idea.

How did he get in?

With this.

The museum's entry badge deactivates the alarm.

He had this on him?

Mrs Dutilleul gave him the badge.

He's her friend, he often came with her.

- Who? - Catherine Dutilleul, the collector.

She has an estate in Amboise, Château du Clos Lucé.

And she has a badge for the museum?

She provides more than half our budget.

This is a second home to her.

When you say, "Christian Lambert was her friend,"

what does that mean?

Well, they were often seen together,

he entertained her, gave her presents...

Is this her?

Yes.

OK, so Madam has a gigolo.

What's that got to do with the stolen painting?

I want no trouble with Mrs Dutilleul.

Nor with me.

Mrs Dutilleul called yesterday to buy the painting.

How much?

?100,000.

I know some who'd kill for less.

I fear it's not so cut and dried. The painting's value is challenged.

I consulted an expert yesterday. You know Florence Chassagne?

No.

I could introduce you if you like.

That won't be necessary.

Florence! Talk of the devil. This is Captain Verlay.

Hello, Captain.

I'm glad OCBC is handling this case. At least you guys know your stuff.

I told the captain you had doubts about its value.

More than doubts.

He's a nobody from the French School. Poor execution, no signature...

Yes, she is ugly. Excuse me.

We need your help, sir.

No, honestly...

You might get ?100,000 for a Bourdichon,

but this painting doesn't have the quality of a Bourdichon!

Bourdi-who?

Jean... Jean Bourdichon.

Painter at the Royal Court.

Great!

But even if it was one, you wouldn't kill for a Bourdichon!

You know why people kill, do you?

French history is dotted with murders.

I'm not investigating Jesus's death.

Yes, Mathieu?

Can you pull out everything you have on a certain Catherine Dutilleul.

It's not her.

OK...

Yes, just like it sounds...

OK, thanks.

The painting is of no interest to Catherine Dutilleul.

With her fortune, she can buy any work of art.

There's obviously something about this painting.

Obviously?

Look, Mrs Chassagne, you have a rich imagination.

But a painting's gone, a man is dead and I have to investigate.

So whether it's a Bournichon or not, that's not my problem, OK!

OK?

Can I ask how you got into OCBC?

Let's stick to our own jobs, OK?

I promise I'll fill in a card on Bournichon.

Bourdichon.

Can someone help me?

You OK?

Yes. Fine.

Thank you.

OK. Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Come along.

Has this happened before?

Yes, but not like this.

Do you want a doctor?

No, I'll be all right. I'll go home.

Wait here, I'll get the car.

Sorry, but I haven't seen Christian in a week.

I ended our relationship.

What happened?

Habit.

Boredom is a luxury I can no longer afford.

You can't tell me more?

No. I'm sorry.

Excuse me.

Bertrand!

Is that you and Christian Lambert?

I was going to remove those.

Please see the gentleman out.

Excuse me, ma'am...

You say you didn't see Lambert yesterday?

Yes.

But your caretaker claims he looked for you at 9pm.

Tell the captain what happened.

The gentleman arrived at 9:30pm.

He insisted at length,

but Madam had told me not to let him in.

So you don't know why he stole it.

He knew I was fond of it.

It was revenge for breaking up.

Now he's dead, my painting's gone

and I feel bad for wasting your time.

This way, sir.

Oh! Excuse me, I'm really sorry.

Just one more little thing.

Why did you want the painting? Apparently it's worthless.

I once had a bulldog like you. Extremely stubborn.

Oh?

You know Anne of Brittany lived at Amboise before da Vinci?

When she came to Le Clos Lucé,

she'd just lost 6 babies in succession.

Her husband Charles VIII built her a chapel

to soothe her sorrow. Six children...

Just think!

I was never able to have children.

Money can't buy everything.

Though it's not comparable,

Anne of Brittany is like a soul sister.

I always regretted

that my late husband donated that portrait to the château.

And to finally answer your question, Captain,

that's why I wanted Anne to return to her place in the family.

The money isn't important.

My daughter-in-law couldn't bear that.

Your...

Sophie Granger. You haven't questioned her yet?

No, not yet. Why?

She called yesterday.

She'd heard I wanted to buy Anne's portrait.

She was very aggressive.

Aggressive? Because of her father?

It was as if I'd desecrated his memory.

No, she'd do anything to keep the painting there, believe me.

You think she'd go as far as killing Christian Lambert?

Is that it?

- You don't know? - Know what?

They had a fling.

He left her for me.

She didn't take that well, either.

Really?

Mrs Granger?

- Yes? - Police.

I've a few questions for you.

Yes.

Bring the bread.

Come.

I can't believe Christian's dead.

- Were you still in contact with him? - No.

But I heard how he was when she threw him out.

The painting Lambert tried to steal...

You were fond of it. A link to your father.

Did Catherine tell you that?

How arrogant!

I just said she could at least respect his wishes.

She's voracious.

She wanted your father, your boyfriend.

Now she wants the painting.

What do you mean?

And you have reasons to blame Lambert.

Two years on, you were still dumped for your mother-in-law.

Rubbish! Catherine wanted the painting, don't you see?

What she wants, she gets! They'd never steal off her.

There. That's all we have.

The château bought a photo from us a few years ago.

You didn't even clean it?

In 500 years, nobody has shown an interest in this painting but you.

And Catherine Dutilleul.

So that's it. You're working on a police case.

- I don't see any cops... - I do have one.

An uneducated cowboy who thinks Botticelli is a brand of spaghetti.

Get the picture?

But when museums become supermarkets, it's hardly surprising.

Florence, are you sure about what you're doing?

I love it when my exes worry about me.

I doubt the 2 who came after me would.

- The three. - My compliments.

I just want to understand.

With a photo?

A photo...

And this.

Where did you find them?

On the ground in front of the château.

That's right!

If Dutilleul knew Lambert wanted it, she may have had him tailed.

She had the choice of sending the cook, gardener,

caretaker, bodyguard, butler, chauffeur...

I've wiretapped them all.

?5,000 a month to take care of her dog?

Interested?

Maybe.

If one of them buys a Porsche, we'll give him a grilling.

I've a lunch to go to.

Did you see Florence Chassagne?

Yes.

She's not just anyone. Did she talk about the painting?

No.

Antoine...

It's a murder, OK?

I don't need a bookworm telling me how to work!

Hey! Remember where you'd be if I hadn't taken you in here!

I know your lousy temper.

Don't mess up, you won't get many more chances.

Call Chassagne.

- OK, I'll call her. - You will.

I thought I was going to fall.

Acrophobia.

What if I can't go upstairs in a castle

or a church?

Or even at my office!

Do I have to stop work?

You came up these stairs, didn't you?

I'm not that bad yet. But it worries me.

I know, I have too much imagination.

Even the cop said so.

You're right.

That's not quite what I said.

But phobias are linked to the imagination.

Apart from the policeman, who mentioned your imagination?

OK...

I don't want to talk about my father today. I'd rather...

Yes?

No, it's nothing.

Tell me what comes into your mind.

I saw Jean Bourdichon sitting at your desk.

Last time Botticelli was inspecting my library.

It's not normal.

Dad!

Hi! How's it going?

Good.

Are we sleeping at your place?

Not tonight, son. OK, pirate?

Why don't we ever go to your place?

When we're in Bordeaux we'll go to Paris for the holidays.

What?

What's all this nonsense?

I'm sorry, they overheard us talking and I had to explain.

I haven't talked to the judge yet...

I'm taking the children to Bordeaux, I'm moving in with Paul.

Hang on, you want me never to see my kids again?

You've hardly seen them!

It's as if you avoid them.

- Just stop that! - OK!

Look, it's a big house.

They'd have their own room, a garden...

Maybe you could think of them.

You're right.

Your Paul's a great guy, he cooks, he comes home on time...

Maybe one day the kids will call him Dad too.

You'll have half the holidays and see them as often or more...

I don't want to be alone, Antoine.

I need something like a family. The children too.

New owners at Château du Clos Lucé

An historical wedding

call: forensics

- Finished the autopsy? - Yes. You were right.

Lambert wasn't trying to leave. He couldn't.

Stretching his arm opened the perforation in his lung by 3cm.

That's will power! I think he turned

in order to point at something with his hand.

OK, fine. Thanks.

Le Clos Lucé open to the public

Le Close Lucé has owned the painting for 500 years

But of course!

Captain Verlay is unavailable.

But I really need to speak to him!

- I'm sorry... - Sorry?

I'm sorry...

I don't get it. Does he think I'm too stuck-up to talk to?

Hello? Look, you know what you can tell him?

I hope he gets stuffed by all the queens of France and Navarre!

But not Anne of Brittany.

Why are you here?

I need to check something with you.

Investigating the Château du Clos Lucé?

- Hello. - What about hello?

"Hello, sorry I forgot to knock,

"could you tell me about your research?

"Please."

OK. Hello, Mrs Chassagne,

sorry I forgot to knock, could you tell me about your research?

Please.

There we are!

Catherine Dutilleul...

Mad about the Italian Renaissance, she has a huge private collection.

Before Amboise, Anne's portrait never moved from Le Clos Lucé.

All this involves...

Leonardo da Vinci.

Right.

The bearded guy who spent his last 3 years at Le Clos Lucé.

Right too.

In 1516, da Vinci crosses the Alps to join Francis I's court in Amboise.

He takes with him

the Saint Anne,

the St John the Baptist,

the Mona Lisa...

The Mona Lisa?

Yes, I know that one.

And...

the Monna Vanna.

We know what it looks like

from copies made at the time, like this.

There's a fine one in St Petersburg.

She takes up the Mona Lisa pose.

You're keeping up?

Yes, it's the naked Mona Lisa.

Antonio de Beatis saw her at Le Clos Lucé in October 1517. Then nothing...

It's the only painting lost without trace.

Until today.

Exactly!

And look at this...

The bust and the hands embody feminine grace.

But the lower face, the neck and the belly...

are masculine.

Leonardo da Vinci had done time for homosexuality.

He wouldn't want another scandal.

He might have put the painting out of sight,

hidden behind another painting

at Le Clos Lucé at that time.

You don't kill for a Bourdichon.

But for a da Vinci...

- Exactly. - But we have no proof.

We have this.

Studs!

These are studs.

Look.

They're part of the frame. Here, see?

I see them.

I picked them up outside the château.

You did what?

- Yes, but... - No.

Right then,

you called me an annoying nutcase!

When he came out, Lambert could have opened the frame

to look behind it.

He didn't die for Anne of Brittany.

He wanted to steal a Leonardo da Vinci.

And stop Dutilleul from having it.

Her soul sister.

The old girl tricked me.

Did I say my bulldog was stubborn and stupid?

I can bark if you like.

Is that an original?

Yes, it's the 1550 edition.

Giorgio Vasari was Leonardo da Vinci's first biographer.

In fact, you're into Leonardo, aren't you?

You own every book on him.

But oddly there are no pictures.

You credit me with powers I don't have.

Captain!

No trace of the portrait of Anne of Brittany,

but we found this in the safe.

What's that?

Mean anything?

Looks like a page of codex.

Codex?

Leonardo da Vinci used to constantly write in notebooks.

They're gathered in big books called codices.

But I don't know this page.

You think da Vinci wrote this?

Looks like it. We need an appraisal.

But it's the same hard-to-read mirror writing.

I have many similar manuscripts, if you're interested.

Yes.

What?

"Behind Anne...

"hides a beauty...

"Facta di naturale."

Facta di naturale - without dressing.

What does that mean?

Those are the terms used by Antonio de Beatis

when he saw the Monna Vanna in 1517.

It's like "au naturel" - naked.

Maybe he means the chambermaid.

Maybe she was called Anne.

Pardon?

Mrs Chassagne, we are humble lawyers but we know Leonardo wrote down

everything in his notebooks. Even his shopping lists.

And the drawers?

After the car and the helicopter, it may be a prototype photocopier.

Or a toaster.

All we have are independent elements

assembled by a historian. No painting, no proof.

Wait. You must have thought about the Monna Vanna.

Your waffle about Anne of Brittany was very moving.

You hid information on a murder

which constitutes obstruction!

I never mentioned this manuscript to anyone.

Not even Christian.

Christian Lambert crawled 50m to Leonardo's grave,

losing blood. And you think he wanted to pray?

Lambert knew there was a da Vinci hidden in Amboise.

So you had him followed!

By whom? You've no proof...

Mrs Chassagne, how much is a Leonardo da Vinci worth?

Depends on its state.

But around ?100 million.

100 million euros?

100 million euros.

That price translates to a great big motive.

100 million.

Well, Mrs Dutilleul?

If you have no further questions, my client would like to stop now.

Madam?

Shit! I thought you were sure of yourself.

Sorry, I'm a historian, not a cop.

I can't ask Leonardo if he hid his painting!

I use my imagination to get inside Leonardo's head!

Right. We need to have your codex assessed.

Wait here and someone will come to take your statement.

Leonardo di ser Piero born in Vinci in 1452.

Is that you?

OK, Mr da Vinci, let's cut to the chase...

Recognize this?

The Monna Vanna.

Mr da Vinci says he has no memory of the picture

and denies being its author.

Our witnesses claim that he was. And the content is rather risqué.

You didn't seek to hide it, did you?

Madam?

Madam!

Shall we go?

No match

What have we got?

Nothing on the linen maid.

Mrs Dutilleul's staff seem beyond reproach.

How is it going with your wife?

Do you have a lawyer?

No.

Antoine,

the divorce cost you a job with Crime Squad. Wasn't that enough?

You should let it all out instead of holding things in.

Or you'll blow a fuse.

Look, Mercier was a dick.

Everyone knew that.

But you don't tell your boss that.

Not you. You're not a dick.

Idiot!

Come and see this!

I may have something.

Bertrand Lesieur, 1990,

exceeding the 50km/h speed limit.

- Are you kidding? - No.

Before being a butler, he was an army NCO.

If I was Dutilleul, I'd have set this guy on Lambert. No?

Good thinking.

You say you were at Mrs Dutilleul's the night of the murder?

Yes, I went to my room after Madam went to bed at 10.

I see we have a problem.

Because two customers of the Francis I bar

saw you on the high street around midnight.

I can explain.

But please don't tell Mrs Dutilleul

or I'll lose my job.

Tell her what?

I'm seeing a woman in Amboise. I was with her.

You can write down her name.

I'm not supposed to have had a personal life for 20 years.

Here, we could see each other a little.

We'll check. Be right back.

- Yes? - It's me, Dad.

Floflo!

To what do I owe the pleasure?

We need to talk.

What's all this?

Just tidying up.

More space to breathe, don't you think?

- I've been on it for 2 days. - I...

Two days! What about our consulting firm?

I'm stopping that.

What?

- I set it up especially for you. - Don't worry!

You'll manage alone. Come and see the kitchen garden.

Kitchen garden?

You've never gardened before.

- You hate dirty hands. - Isn't it great?

It's doing me so much good.

OK.

One problem after the other.

Dad,

I must tell you something.

Yes?

I may be on the trail of the Monna Vanna.

Er... I think I'll put some parsley in.

I said the Monna Vanna!

Fetch me some water from the well. Fewer phosphates.

Who cares! You must help me find the Monna Vanna!

Did da Vinci ever mention the portrait of Anne of Brittany?

I don't want to hear about Leonardo da Vinci!

Can't you see I want to find peace?

Give it here, I'll go.

See this?

It's a black box.

We found it in Lambert's car.

Apparently he hid it in dear Mrs Dutilleul's office.

The quality is pretty good.

This is with her lawyer...

I gave him an apartment?

You asked me to look after it.

You wanted to help him and his family.

The figure of 150,000 was mentioned.

I've a doubt... is that four or five zeros?

Er... five.

There are dozens like it.

How long has this been going on?

Madam refuses to admit she is ill.

She knew Lambert was spying on her?

He made the recordings for her,

to show her she was a victim of abuse.

He must have been fond of her.

Yes.

Except you don't tell Mrs Dutilleul she's getting older

or that she has Alzheimer's.

And he did?

Yes.

And she fired him. I can see why he wanted revenge.

Luckily you were there to watch over her, etc.

I don't know what you mean.

I'm just saying.

Your friend said you were with her the night of the murder.

So I'm free to go?

You could say that.

How do you behave with Mrs Dutilleul?

You stay close to hand? Same with us: don't go anywhere.

I've had two attacks in two days.

Soon I'll have to stay at home

and not climb any steps.

Tell me about your attack at the Château d'Amboise.

You were already in the tower

and the vertigo came when the policeman left you.

- Is that it? - Yes.

He already thought I was hysterical, anyway.

Have you had any attacks in his presence?

No.

With him, I haven't much time to think about it.

Phobics often seize upon an object to help allay their panic

and reduce anxiety. It's called a counterphobic object.

It can be an object. Or a person.

What are you trying to say?

This captain could be your counterphobic object!

No.

You see, he and I are pretty much like chalk and cheese.

Likes or dislikes don't come into it.

You don't choose your counterphobic object.

But you don't have attacks in his presence.

Great!

So now I'm cured.

I just have to drag him along, everywhere I go?

Well, his presence does seem to do you good.

I'm sorry. Excuse me.

You know what?

We'll talk about it next time. My counterphobic object is calling.

It's iron gall ink, as used by Leonardo.

But forgers manage to make it.

And the parchment?

16th-century.

But blank pages from that time aren't hard to find.

You're leaving me behind here.

Everything about the manuscript is period, except the manuscript?

For now, there's a doubt.

- See anything? - Seb,

could you blow up this drawing?

Of course.

- Hello, Mrs Chassagne. - Hello, Yanis.

Look!

Letters in the eyes.

Here... an L for Leonardo

and an S...

for Salai.

Salai was da Vinci's assistant and lover,

perhaps the model for the Monna Vanna.

You remember the male-female mix?

It's OK, forget it.

In 1518, Salai left Milan

to join his master in Amboise.

And try and wring money out of him before his death!

It's possible Leonardo was afraid people would find out who Salai was.

That's it!

Another reason to hide his painting.

OK. Is the codex authentic or not?

If it's a fake, then the author's a virtuoso.

We need an appraisal.

Show it to your father!

Certainly not.

Why, who's her father?

But he's the world's leading da Vinci codex expert.

Mention da Vinci and I'll end up like Saturn's children by Goya!

I don't know about you, but I don't understand a single word she says.

You don't know Goya's painting?

I'll show you something.

Saturn's children.

Why look at me like that?

No reason.

My dad worked on Leonardo's missing texts for 10 years.

When he found them, a Russian businessman bought them.

Dad never saw them again.

Yes?

It's me.

He hasn't got over it.

It might help him to feel useful.

You don't know my dad!

The police, now? Where will all this end?

Do I have to go and live in a cave?

Dad, stop it!

No, it's over!

No more P. Chassagne, no more codex specialist!

I want to be forgotten!

I know. But only you can help us.

Then pretend I'm dead.

I like you, Mr Chassagne.

I'm like you, I can't bear other people.

But a man was killed.

Don't make me charge you with obstruction.

Is that clear?

Wait outside for me.

I've a right to peace and quiet!

Is your vertigo any better?

Yes. I'm fine.

Floflo!

Coming?

Unbelievable!

Is it the Monna Vanna?

What?

- Did you translate this? - Yes.

Since when did you mistake Southern Tuscan for Northern?

There, on the second line,

that's not at all a northern phrase. It's borrowed from a Sienese dialect.

Leonardo would never have written that.

These forgers are ignorant phoneys! Tell them I said so.

And now, leave me the heck alone!

Monna Vanna was never hidden in Amboise.

But why? It's horrible to do this!

Look, I don't know painting, but I know crooks.

They don't go to such trouble for peanuts.

This murder's linked to a massive fraud of tens of millions of euros.

Cheer up. We're making progress.

Go on...

We know why you want the Anne of Brittany portrait,

but given the circumstances we'll take 30 million euros

...in cash.

I'll have it tomorrow. Call me.

- I'll call at the same time. - Wait...

Yes?

Did you kill Christian?

You wanted to see me?

We need to talk.

Subtitles : ECLAIR