Original subtitles

In the sale of Marie-Therese’s orchard,

the seller is listed as the abbey. Is'nt it weird?

I can always tell when someone needs to confess.

- How did you do this? - Playing with a crossbow.

- Did you put this here? - You want to go empty-handed?

- Don’t move! - Mum, let him go.

Help me.

What happened last night?

Hey, settle down, okay?

- What was his name?

With Father Sebastien.

- Why do you want to see him? - Same reason I want to see you.

- Veronique? - Veronique.

No!

“His fruit is sweet to my taste, and let his banner over me be love.”

Wow, that’s pretty sexy!

It’s far from the best translation.

This is the Bible we have at home.

I’ll find you a more poetic version.

You know, God is love.

While humans are both spirit and flesh.

And the Bible celebrates

all of divine creation.

And the fleshly aspect is part of

I don’t mean to be rude, but what do you know about the flesh?

Not much, in truth.

I'm sorry.

It can’t be easy being a monk, in that way.

All of our paths are strewn with danger.

With temptation.

But is God really all about love?

For someone so loving, He likes to punish.

I’m asking because sometimes, I’m afraid I can’t help myself.

Do you know theatre, the classics?

I’m in a play at school.

It’s in November. Will you come?

I’ll come and see you if, before that,

you come and pray at Brother Jacques’s grotto with me.

We’ll pray and repent.

We’ll both need to.

Okay.

One of these days. You forgot to give me my penance again.

Say three Hail Marys.

And two stations of the cross.

Okay.

THE WALL

Okay, but I have a contract.

Forensics will be here in half an hour.

- Anything interesting? - Hard to say.

In theory, quads aren’t allowed on abbey ground.

But if a hunter is chasing his wounded deer,

he won’t let that stop him.

As for footprints,

with all the pilgrims passing through every week...

Yeah.

- Mark what you can. - Okay, boss.

I said not to tell anyone.

It hit your friend pretty hard.

- Did you see the body? - Yeah. Maybe a little too hard.

- Pardon me? - Just weirdly hard.

Hey, are you jealous?

What were you two doing here?

Isn’t it the first thing you’d ask two people

who “found” a dead monk pierced with arrows?

We were looking for him.

- For different reasons. Guess mine.

Are the monks really involved in your cousin’s death?

They may have useful information. That’s what I’m after.

Johnny says in 1986 the monks found Veronique’s blood in the sugar shack.

Yes, the detectives found her blood.

Go back to the office. I’ll explain later.

Why? It’s not going according to plan?

No, Francis. It’s not going according to plan.

- So we ditch the whole plan? - Not at all, I’ll explain later.

Listen carefully.

So I’ll have a room with the monks?

No, this house is for women doing a retreat at the abbey.

I shouldn’t be here. But at this hour, the women are at chapel.

You prefer your room at Karen’s inn?

I’ll take you back if you want.

Olivia...

What are you cooking up with Karen and the Jolicoeurs?

Why would I tell you?

- You’re as scared of them as I am. - It’s true.

But I brought you here, right?

If you want me to help you...

My mum is in debt to Simon Jolicoeur and his partner.

The Jolicoeurs are holding me until she pays.

What kind of debt?

She accidentally sabotaged a deal they were all in on.

Simon, my mum and an American.

- Smuggling? - You know about it?

I can tell you.

Last year, I asked for Simon’s help

to smuggle people from my country over the border.

Now the Jolicoeurs take me for one of their gang.

They threaten to turn me in if I don’t obey them.

My mum did prison time for her mistake.

But it wasn’t enough for Simon and the American.

They’re forcing her to do something else.

What?

- Who is Simon’s partner? - His name’s McNeil.

- Sandford McNeil? - You know him?

Are you Father Isaac, Father Sebastien’s new right-hand man?

Yes, as I said three times.

You manage the abbey when Father Sebastien is away?

Well, he’s away. Sergeant McNeil has some questions for you.

Where’s the naked monk?

- Would you like me to... - Get out of here, Johnny.

Veronique.

Veronique Jolicoeur...

Sound familiar? Brother?

He wasn’t always American.

But in any case, around here, the US is like the next village.

Why did he want to see Father Sebastien?

It was about a wedding.

- Whose wedding? - His niece’s.

Father Sebastien was supposed to officiate, that’s all I know. Ask him.

I’m sure Damien wasn’t involved in the abbot’s death.

Not involved?

- You’re sure of that? - Yes, Alex. I know him.

I’d have sensed it.

- Your famous sixth sense? - You know my instincts seldom fail me.

Yes, but with your family or lovers, your instincts aren’t worth shit.

Your ex-husband led a double life and you didn’t notice.

You still miss the mark when it comes to what your daughter wants.

- Maybe. - Same thing with your cousin.

Veronique?

The inquiry concluded an outsider,

some freak passing through town killed her.

But you know that’s not true.

It’s actually someone local.

Someone you both knew, but whom she knew better,

without telling you.

That’s why you returned to Applegrove.

Understand. I want to help you.

But you can’t trust your instincts here.

Here you’re 16 and as naive as they come.

You feel like you know everyone, but who are these people?

In the village, the woods, the abbey... You know fuck all.

You can’t make hunches like you do with strangers.

So if you want to find out who killed Veronique,

forget your instincts, they don’t work here.

Look with your eyes, think with your brain.

Leave your heart and gut out of it. Think you can do that?

I don’t know. Why are you saying all this now?

Because I talked to the boss

and I told him I’ve good reason to believe

Father Sebastien’s murder and your cousin’s are linked.

You asked him for the case file for Veronique’s murder?

I’ll send you a copy if you promise to...

Anything you want, Alex.

Celine?

I’d better get back to work. Still on for later?

Yes, see you later.

- Simon, it’s me! Come out here! - No need to yell. I’m here.

- What are you digging, your grave?

- You were right. - About what?

I’m always right.

I shouldn’t have put all my eggs in the same basket.

- With McNeil? - Yes.

The girl went to the abbey.

I know. Xavier called me.

Afraid you’d bury him behind your trailer?

Yeah, probably.

- Did you know he was gay? - Well, yeah.

- Why didn’t you tell me? - It’s none of my business.

Hey, I thought you knew too.

- What difference does it make? - I’m just fed up.

Sick of all the Jolicoeurs’ secrets.

Stop. Not this morning.

It’s afternoon and time we stopped hiding.

Don’t start!

What do you care that I’m not all fancy,

all well-turned out like your brother’s wife?

Is that anyone’s business?

You say your family doesn’t control you, but you do nothing to upset them.

Black sheep, my eye.

You’re just a sheep.

- Lay off, Karen. - Fine, I’m fat and trashy.

But that doesn’t stop you sleeping with me.

It doesn’t stop you sleeping only with me.

- How would you know? - I just know.

You’ve never slept with anyone but me.

You can tell me.

Has there ever been anyone else?

All right, Macbeth...

Where are you, Macbeth?

I know you’re Macbeth! But where’s the book?

I put it with the costumes.

Please don’t say that, Leopold.

I’m at my wits’ end!

Only Vero can... She’s good for him.

Emile... You don’t know what it’s like having him all day.

My daughter’s not coming to live with you. Never!

You want me to put him back on drugs?

- It’s medication, Louise. - It’s drugs!

You shouldn’t give that to a child.

There! So well-dressed, Your Majesty.

Now turn around so I can get dressed.

- Give me a minute. - What’s wrong now?

I’m in trouble.

What did Xavier tell you about last night?

Nothing. I came here to ask you.

Hey now.

Relax, Simon.

There’s no problem.

When you listen to me, there are only solutions.

So the monks sold the orchard and land to your parents.

- Take your coat off at least. - I’m not staying long.

It was in I949. You were young, but...

I must have known they bought it from the monks.

But I never thought about it.

The orchard was on our land, that’s it.

Sit down.

Why would the monks want to sell it?

At such a low price!

A working orchard on the lakeside for next to nothing.

- Is that from the town archives? - Yes.

I don’t know, honey. You’ll have to ask the monks.

The abbot says the last monks arrived in the early 70s.

Some of them must have heard about the circumstances of the sale.

- Would they tell us the truth? - After all this time?

Why would they lie?

I’m acquainted with the abbot. Shall I ask him?

I wish you could, but...

Murdered?

In the grotto?

Good Lord!

Kevin, the abbot was murdered!

Kevin!

- Kevin! - I’ll go and find him.

Are you okay?

Yes. Did I hear right? The abbot is dead?

Emile?

Emile?

“What I believe I’ll wail, What I’ve learned, I believe,

I‘ll redress what I can,

“Once the time is right.”

- I have to go. - Yes, go ahead.

The darkness has not overcome us.

What did you say?

My mum would say that when things were going wrong.

To keep her hopes up.

“The darkness has not overcome me.” She said it was her motto.

Her motto...

- I haven’t been here in ages. - Not even in your dreams?

You’re full of yourself! You think I still dream about our first encounter?

Maybe not now, but I dreamt about it for a long time.

What were you hoping by bringing me here?

I think you know.

But after what I saw in that grotto...

I'm not a cop, you know.

Seems you knew Father Sebastien well.

Yes, he was a confidant.

I’m sorry.

For your niece too.

- The wedding. - Right, the wedding. Thanks.

- Do you think there’s a link? - With Veronique?

Well, until we know why Father Sebastien was murdered...

- Do we know why Vero was killed? - Decapitated, blood all over...

Surely it was a psychopath, right?

We were young and happy. We had a great evening planned.

What do you remember?

Tell me. Maybe you forgot something helpful.

What I remember is...

- The drum! - Already? You skipped tons of stuff.

A drum! Macbeth Morency doth come.

Damien?

All hail, Macbeth Morency, thou shalt be king hereafter!

Do you seek me, madam? Is so sweet a hope permitted me?

That’s cute.

What’s that? That’s not Macbeth. It’s not even Shakespeare.

It’s Corneille. No, Racine. I can’t remember!

Celine!

Don’t worry, I rehearsed it for you.

- You’re not in costume. - Give me a sec.

My dear brothers.

My dear sisters.

Hallelujah, in pyjamas.

In trousers. And in nylons.

Where did you get this weed? It’s wicked!

My cousins, the Morency sisters, gave it to me.

Can someone explain to me

why everyone calls a boy and a girl the Morency sisters?

- I mean... - You want the short version?

Or the long version?

- Long. - Short.

Same difference.

Because I don’t know!

They’re twin girls.

They’re the Morency twin girls?

Or twin boys.

You know what happened afterwards.

We decided to go walking in the woods.

- Who decided that? - Vero.

She always decided.

Brother Isaac.

I’ve changed the spark plugs twice. It’s the starter.

- Did you go to the grotto? - No.

But Mr Morency went there with Celine, looking for Father Sebastien.

Damien Morency and Celine Jolicoeur. I mean, Trudeau.

She wanted to know the name of the confessor...

of her cousin Veronique.

It’s strange we haven’t heard from him.

We need to report Father Sebastien missing.

Good timing, the police are here.

- Give me the key. - The key to what?

TO MY SUCCESSOR

I looked for him this morning.

Someone said they saw him last night in the chapel with Father Gabriel.

But Father Gabriel’s out with his walker.

He can’t have gone far. But the abbot...

Can’t you tell me what’s going on?

- Who stands in for the abbot? - Father Isaac.

- Okay, thanks. - Thanks.

“Dear Isaac, you’re the one who will succeed me, as we know.

“But I’m leaving you an abbey in disarray.

"I‘m sure that’s no surprise to you.

“But the situation is even worse than you can imagine.”

Why do people sell anything, an orchard or whatever?

The monks must have needed money. But what they sold it for...

- They’re not that bright. - Okay.

I got a call from Alex.

The lab analysed Marie-Therese’s skeleton.

She was poisoned.

With arsenic.

Any idea who could’ve done that?

No.

You were there that night. Did she make dinner?

Of course she did.

Did anyone give her anything, preserves, a bottle of cider?

I don’t remember, Celine. I just don’t remember.

- Yes? - Brother Isaac?

Detective Sergeant Alexandre Theberge.

- Any news? - About Father Sebastien?

Yes, but you didn’t seem in a rush to hear it earlier.

On the contrary.

I assure you.

What exactly is going on?

We found Father Sebastien in Brother Jacques’s grotto.

Dead.

Someone shot him with a crossbow.

- A crossbow? - Seven arrows.

Most of them fired at close range. Any idea who could’ve done that?

What’s all that paper?

Some town archives Alex photocopied.

- You’re wasting your time. - Come and look.

Father Gabriel Robin.

He was abbey treasurer in 1949. He authorised the orchard’s sale.

He moved to another abbey, but came back in the early 70s.

And he’s still here. He’s on the abbey website.

- He’ll be able to explain. - Explain what?

Why they sold us the orchard, and even what happened to Marie-Therese.

He knew her. Look.

“The darkness has not overcome me.” It’s on your mother’s ring.

It’s the motto of Mende in southern France.

He grew up in Quebec, but was born there.

Uncle, call an ambulance!

It’s just a dizzy spell.

I’m fine.

- Is there a doctor at the abbey? - It’s nothing.

Just a little accident.

What are you doing here?

I know what he’s doing here.

He’s Father Gabriel Robin.

He’s my father.

Yes, it’s true.

For many years, everyone’s known

that the congregation’s finances are, how shall I put it, in decline.

But that’s no reason to...

Poor Father Sebastien!

Arrows to the chest? Really?

What difference does it make how it was done?

You clearly haven’t read the Lives of the Saints.

The death of Saint Sebastian.

- Hello? - Hello, Father Isaac.

I’m the niece of Leopold Jolicoeur, your neighbour.

Father Gabriel’s here and we need you. It’s urgent.

We’re on our way, Celine.

I was 13.

My dad and brothers were off on business in the States.

My sisters were asleep.

I woke up in the night and heard my mother crying.

I begged her to make herself vomit.

She hesitated for a minute, before realising

how foolish she’d been.

But it was too late.

Arsenic is unforgiving.

She took off all her rings. Except one.

So I could sell them if we needed money.

Afterwards, she asked me to dig her grave on abbey grounds.

And never to tell anyone.

It took me years to realise that everything that had happened

was because of a monk who raped my mother.

The abbot himself told me he’d sold my dad the orchard for peanuts

in exchange for his silence.

And that it had started well before my dad realised.

I checked the dates of the letters Dad sent Mum when he was in the US.

My mum said I was born premature.

My dad believed it.

But it didn’t take a genius

to see that my mother’s shame was me.

Now that you’re about to croak,

and have forced me to break my promise,

do you think that by confessing, you’ll be pardoned?

No!

I loved her.

And she loved me too.

I only said I forced myself on her

because your father would’ve killed her, and you too.

He’d known

that your mother and I had been seeing each other in secret for years...

When the abbot found out we had continued seeing each other,

even after the orchard was sold,

he sent me to Germany.

It was in despair at losing me that your mother...

Liar! Liar!

I almost followed in her footsteps, Leopold.

I wanted to tell you everything, but you wouldn’t have believed me.

But the ring that I gave her...

It was the only proof that our love was real.

I asked Veronique to look for it.

She never found it.

Then one day, near Brother Jacques’s grotto,

I told her everything.

She believed me.

And the next day...

After my beloved, they took my granddaughter from me!

Your daughter.

Do you believe me too?

Do you believe me now?

My son!

Are you okay?

I’m too weak.

He’s asking for last rites. He wants to die here.

- He died in front of you? - Yes.

- The monks took the body. - Did you talk to him?

He was the last person to see Father Sebastien.

He wouldn’t say much.

He talked to Father Isaac, but under confession.

But I gather Father Sebastien didn’t have so clear a conscience.

- Has his office been sealed off? - Yes, we’ll go round tomorrow.

He talked about other things. He told Celine.

She had a lover.

A lover?

I’d have known. Who?

She wouldn’t tell me.

She was embarrassed to talk about it because he was older than her.

She’d made love with him.

When did she tell you that?

- It was in late September. - September ’86.

What else did she say about her lover?

He remembered that Veronique told him

her lover looked handsome in his uniform.

Really? What kind of uniform?

I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?

Hi, Lieutenant McNeil. Your ex is in a good mood.

Always happy to see me.

What do you want?

Veronique Jolicoeur. They’re reopening the case.

Theberge had the files sent. Nothing I could do.

- Where are you going? - Across the border, dimwit.

What should I do?

What you do best... nothing.

I think they’re going to find out.

Are you nuts?

Find out what? Tell me.

The truth, Louise.

Which truth would that be?

They are many truths.

Subtitles © SBS Australia 2023