Original subtitles

THE WALL

...is holding discussions with counterparts from other provinces...

Hi, hone.

Uncle Leopold.

I’m making dinner, just so you know.

You can have our old room.

Unless you prefer Veronique’s.

- Go and look. Nothing’s changed. - Not right now.

I’ll get settled in first.

Yes.

Oh, Lord!

- Celine? - Hi, Auntie.

- I thought we’d never see you again. - Me too, but here I am.

It’s been almost 35 ears.

You never came back, not even to see Leo old?

At first, my mother didn’t want me to. After a time, it became awkward.

Uncle Leopold understood. He’d visit me in Quebec Cit.

But now with his health...

Anyway, I’m glad to see you.

- Are you staying long? - A few days. I have two weeks off.

You absolutely must come by the house.

Emile would be so ha

You know, we’re living in the bi Collins house now.

- You have to see it. - I’ll come by.

I’m so happy to see you.

Not everyone here is. I feel like a walking bad memory.

- You’re exaggerating. - No doubt.

What’s taking her so long?

What’s that?

Honestly!

Take it easy. It’s just a storm.

Easy...

- Hey! - Hey, Uncle!

I saw a prowler an hour ago. He’s back, so I’m after him.

- You took your time! - It’s a village, I ran into people.

What would a thief be doing in the barn?

Be careful of your heart.

Come and look.

You’d have to be a bloody monster.

Check the orchard.

- Celine... - No. Wait for me here.

Leopold!

Hi, Alex. I’m at the hospital. My uncle had a heart attack.

- Where are you? - Approaching Magog.

I should be there in 20 minutes.

Are you sure you’re right for this case?

Since I got to Homicide, I’ve only had rookies’ cases.

I’m ready. Skeletons don’t scare me.

- Are you scared of anything else? - You mean you?

No, I’m actually pretty excited.

And I’ll have local help.

Johnny Leger, old time cop, seems he knows the area inside out.

Yes, I know Johnny. What’s up with Johnny?

He’s in his 50s and still a patrolman. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Hey, look who’s here.

Big night last night?

Hi, Karen.

What have the nasty Jolicoeurs done now, Johnny?

- I thought we’d been behaving. - A Jolicoeur never behaves.

Same goes for their friends.

I’ll have a ham and cheese wrap.

Who’s that cute girl upstairs?

She’s a pilgrim. There’s no room at the abbey, so she’s staying here.

She wants to be left alone.

Hey, Johnny! Long time no see.

How’s it going, big guy?

What were you doing at our place this morning?

Seeing if you remembered one turkey is the autumn limit.

For sure, I remember.

- So what are you doing here? - I can’t tell you. Not yet.

Johnny, you know you can tell me, right?

- Old lady McNeil’s shed was robbed.

- What did they steal? - She doesn’t know yet.

But she saw a girl come out holding something.

I don’t know any girls dumb enough to rob Susan McNeil in broad daylight.

- It was at night. - Last night?

Remember a few years ago your brother was drunk

and picked up a skunk thinking it was a cat?

- Yeah. - It sprayed his face.

He ran to the inn where Karen said “You idiot, that’s a skunk.”

- I was there! - All that to say that, at night...

if a skunk can look like a cat, a guy can also look like a girl.

Yes.

Anyway, old lady McNeil is half crazy.

But don’t take any chances. Investigate the hell out of it, Johnny.

To serve and protect, right?

Jean Leger, but they call me Johnny.

Alexandre Theberge. You can call me Alex.

But around civilians, it’s Sergeant or Detective-Sergeant, okay?

Okay, boss. Ready to go?

Let’s go.

This may sound crazy,

but for a second I thought it was Vero in those roots.

It’s not Vero.

There’s a skeleton under a fallen tree.

The woman who found it is a homicide detective.

- She’ll be in your way. - It should all be fine.

- I know Celine Trudeau. - Yes, so I’ve heard.

Seems you knew her pretty well.

I think you should mind your own business.

But Celine being here doesn’t mean they should send me a rookie.

No offence, but this case needs experience.

No offence, but they sent you to me, not the other way around.

As for experience, don’t you have enough for two?

That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said...

Touch my coat again and I guarantee you’ll regret it.

You’re not from here, Alex. Around here there’s history, traditions.

There’s something different in the air.

There are borders, visible and invisible.

There are grudges dating back five or six generations.

It looks like any old rural area, but you’d be more at home on Mars.

You think so?

To start with, here Celine Trudeau isn’t Celine Trudeau.

Around here, we don’t care if it’s on your mum’s or dad’s side,

if you’re a Jolicoeur, you’re a Jolicoeur.

You think you know Celine?

If you don’t know her from here, you don’t know her.

I knew Celine.

But in another way and from even closer up than you, I’ll bet.

- She just left the hospital. - Who, Celine?

I have contacts. Hurry if you want a head start before she arrives.

- He didn’t say anything else? - He gave me the turkeys.

He said not to worry, the hunt went well.

The police left, and he took off on a quad.

Which way?

Same way as the police or the other way?

The other way.

- He’d better hope it went well. - What?

The hunt.

Susan!

- Susan! - Back here.

You have so many nice treasures here.

What did the thief take?

I don’t know... yet!

What do you care?

Only your type working in the area, eh?

I’ve never robbed you.

That better be true.

If you’re unsure what’s gone, it can’t be worth much.

You think she’ll come back?

I can feel it.

And I’ll be ready.

Oh fuck!

What was up there?

A body takes six months to two years to completely decompose.

Do you want me to do some research, boss?

Research.

Missing persons from the last few years.

In the area or nearby.

Boss?

These apple trees are Reinette Russets that must be 30 years old.

- They make damn good cider. - You know your apples?

Yes, my grandpa used divining rods. He knew how to choose his branches.

But this one’s a Wolf River.

The fruit is better for pies.

Should we pick a few apples?

After all, we’ll be here all day.

The Wolf River looks 70 to 80 years old.

Given the way the roots wrap around the bones,

it was clearly planted around the same time as the body.

So the murder would’ve been committed at least 70 years ago.

Yes.

Another goddamn bogus investigation.

I’ll spend a week in the archives and get nowhere.

Hi, Celine.

Never mind the archives. I think I know who it is.

The real questions are...

- What? - Who dug it up and why?

Brother Isaac, wait for me.

While Father Gabriel gets to his seat, we have time to talk.

Of course, Father. About what?

I’ve almost finished reading a new book on St Augustine’s doctrine.

It should interest you.

These days, I’m less concerned with doctrinal matters

than with finance and discipline.

Can I help lighten your burden?

I doubt it.

But if you could help me to...

I shouldn’t bother you with this nonsense.

Father Gabriel!

I’m fine! I just lost my balance.

I’ll call an ambulance.

- Are you all right, Father? - Yes. Thanks, Mr Morency.

- Father Gabriel... - Yes?

Let me help you.

All we know is one autumn night in 1953,

my grandma left the house for a walk.

No one ever saw her again.

She wore this ring in old photos.

Back then, your family blamed the Morencys.

Why couldn’t it be them? She didn’t bury herself.

This is weird. Over there by the come-along.

It’s a survey marker. It shows the edge of the property.

Those are like the prints near the house last night.

Here’s another marker. These haven’t been used since the ’50s.

That means when your grandma died, if it is her...

she was buried on abbey grounds.

As a girl, I spent every summer here. And as many weekends as possible.

Your uncle is Leopold Jolicoeur, right?

It’s my mother’s name.

This used to be your grandma’s house? I mean, when she disappeared.

- The skeleton’s over in the orchard.

Yes, but if you don’t mind, start with the hen.

The hen?

You arrived yesterday.

Weird coincidence, the tree toppling over the same day.

You said you hadn’t been here in 30 years.

You arrive and a skeleton just happens to turn up.

I never knew my grandma. Surely it’s unrelated.

What about the hen? It must be a message to someone.

Your uncle fired his gun. Was it aimed at anyone?

He was upset, his heart’s weak. He had a heart attack and the gun fired.

He told you that? How else would I know?

Celine, as you know, the victim’s family is often the last to know what happened.

They’re too close. Not enough distance.

Alex, as you well know, I have 22 years’ experience as an inspector.

That makes 21 years and 6 months more than you.

Okay, let’s get this straight. Like it or not, I’m leading this.

You’re not used to it, but you’ll answer my questions.

Bloody Jacques! He knew no one else would dare talk to me like that.

More like no one else would dare come here.

Okay.

No, I haven’t been here in ages.

But no one here would want to intimidate me.

- What about your uncle? - Him either.

When you went out shopping, you’re sure the hen wasn’t in the yard?

I'm sure.

Look, I’ll show you my grandma.

Look.

Here.

Yes.

Looks like she could hold her own. Guess it runs in the family.

Look at her ring.

- And the other ones? - You’ll have to ask Leopold.

I believe she always wore them. They’re in every photo.

You’ve never seen them? Someone must’ve inherited them.

I’d have known.

So she was likely wearing them when she disappeared.

- The killer stole the others. - Why not this one?

I didn’t think of that.

You’re right, I’m too close.

It happened 70 years ago. We might not figure it out either.

Excuse me, but it’s going to rain.

That’s not good for the footprints. And Forensics need a hand setting up.

I didn’t sleep last night.

I’m going to bed. If you need anything here, make yourself at home.

What the hell did you do to her?

- To who? - To Celine. Stop messing with me.

Not now.

Hey, Uncle.

What are you doing here? Got something else stuck up your arse?

- I’m here to unplug you, old bastard. - For what?

I hope you know you’re not in my will.

- Go and get the nurse. - I just talked to her.

She said to give her a break.

You won’t be discharged till you see the cardiologist again.

Is it true the skeleton is your mum, Marie-Therese?

That’s what Celine thinks.

- It doesn’t bother you? - What?

- You’re getting on my nerves. - They’re trying to mess with us.

- The Morencys, who do you think?

They’re rubbing it in our faces. They came to our place.

My place.

Your place?

It belongs to the Jolicoeurs. It’ll always be our place.

What you want makes no difference.

- What do you want, Simon? - Respect, goddamn it!

That’s what I want.

If the Morencys won’t give us that, damn right I’ll get it from them.

Kevin, we can’t just do nothing about the Morencys.

They’re laughing in our faces.

We’ll find out more, and then get ready.

You might think that’s doing nothing...

It is doing nothing!

- Why would they do this? - Who cares? They did it!

It’s not just to provoke us, but distract us.

- From what? - I’m trying to understand.

Screw that, Kev, we have to take action!

A-C-T-l-O-N, Kevin.

Simon, let me think about it. I’ll call you back.

- How do we tell your mother? - We won’t. She’ll find out anyway.

She ran into Celine yesterday in the village.

My cousin Celine?

She’s staying at Leopold’s.

- She can’t have dug up the skeleton.

But something’s going on.

The Morencys?

Maybe.

Damien’s been hanging around the abbey.

He’s not hanging around the abbey.

- He’s hanging around the abbot. - Father Sebastien?

I see.

The rain washed away most of the boot prints, but you never know.

Yes...

We’ll see where it leads.

There might be clearer prints in the woods.

- So what’s the story? - It’s a long story.

- I’m curious why Celine loathes you. - You don’t let up.

- Do you want the short version?

- Fuck you. I know guys like you.

You want instant info, but understand nothing.

Around here, it’s not just one story.

There are 1000 stories about 100 families,

but three are key to understanding the smallest event.

Among those three families’ stories, one’s worse than the others.

Can I help you?

You’re on abbey grounds. You’re not supposed to be here.

Detective Sergeant Alexandre Theberge, Quebec Police.

What are you doing here? Strange place to hoe, in the woods.

Someone stole my shovel.

I saw footprints and thought I might find it. Have you seen it?

It’s a shovel just like this. Except new.

It was in here.

- When did you finish work yesterday? - 3:30 p.m. But I start early.

- Is the shed ever locked? - No.

- Did you go straight home? - Yes.

- How many monks live here? - 33.

32.

Father Henri died last month.

Most of them are too old to lift a shovel.

- Let alone uproot a tree. - Okay. How many people work here?

About 20.

- About 20? - Yes.

With the lodgings, gardens, volunteers...

- No security cameras? - Never!

So anyone from outside could rummage through the shed.

What’s going on?

- All this because of my shovel? - Yes, all this because of your shovel.

- May I talk to the monks? - Not now, it’s Sext.

- Sext? - There are seven daily offices.

Matins, Lauds, Prime, Sext,

Nones, Vespers and Compline.

Sext is the noon office.

Aren’t you hungry?

You said there were three families who ran things here.

- The Jolicoeurs and who else? - You always go too fast.

Just give me the big picture to start with.

Okay, so basically,

the Jolicoeurs made their name in the ’20s and ’30s during Prohibition.

We’re near the American border. Alcohol smuggling?

That was in Marie-Therese’s time?

When her husband died, she had to feed her children.

She was resourceful so...

She ran the business.

- And business was good. - But she died.

She disappeared. We just found her.

Anyway, same difference. With her gone...

- Another family took over? - The Morencys.

Petty crooks back then.

When the Jolicoeurs lost their leader, the Morencys leapt in.

The Jolicoeurs didn’t back down...

Rivalry started and they’ve been scheming ever since?

Yes. In a nutshell.

- Who’s the third family? - The Collins. Local bluebloods.

Descendants of the Royalists who opposed the Americans in 1775.

Big, old money that gradually dwindled away.

In the mid-’80s, Colonel Collins was so in debt

he had to agree to his daughter marrying a Jolicoeur.

Kevin, Celine’s cousin.

The Collins name and reputation,

combined with the Jolicoeur guts and resources,

helped them get re-established.

Thanks.

But not all Jolicoeurs benefited from the alliance with the Collins.

There are black sheep.

What’s the horrible story?

Veronique Jolicoeur. Celine’s cousin and best friend.

What did Veronique do?

- And what’s it to do with you? - Me?

That can’t be why Celine can’t stand you.

It’s nasty business. Nasty as it comes.

This is the voicemail of Jacques Larocque,

chief of the Homicide Division.

Please leave your message after the tone.

Seriously, Jacques?

Alex I can understand, but Johnny Leger?

- What time did you last see her? - I already told you.

- Had you been drinking? - Yes.

- But not that much. - Which way did you go?

Because “near the river” isn’t specific enough.

Was anyone else with you?

- Don’t you want to find your cousin? - We won’t find her.

At least not alive.

- And you know it. - What, me?

- I’m trying to find her! - She’s dead!

- Okay, how do you know that? - I just do. You wouldn’t understand.

Did you see her die or do you claim to be psychic?

- Who killed her? - You killed her.

Okay, stop screwing around. Seriously, you’re on camera.

- Are you scared? - Scared of what?

- We’re wasting time. - You killed her.

You and the other guys who drooled over her and just wanted to screw her.

You all killed her!

I don’t know what to do. She’s fucking crazy!

You know what I’m going to ask, Jacques.

I want you to reopen Veronique Jolicoeur’s murder case.

Subtitles © SBS Australia 2023