Original subtitles

MAMMON

The CEO of Central Energy is taking money from a company that wants to buy it.

And you're seriously okay with bringing down your own brother?

It was a random tip-off, I didn’t know it would lead to you.

-What's this? -The state of things. What I didn't have time to finish.

You know the rules of the game. They don't change.

-I need to know who your source is. -Dan was my source, don’t you get it?

-Ales! -Abraham...

- No. -What do you mean "no"? -I won't publish it.

Max won't print it?

And you've come here behind his back, and you want me to push it through.

-I like your way of approaching things. -You want me to work for you? -No.

So you want me to nark for you.

I don't think you're going to have a choice.

I think it's a message. A clear warning. It’s all connected somehow.

Your dad, Toman. Everything. I’ll explain in the car, we've got to go.

Today I found out that Daniel gave dad a painting of Abraham.

-The ring. -What about it?

-Those are dad’s... -What?

...initials. DV.

FIRE

Why would dad give you such a strange painting?

He provoked me all his life. He always did everything to spite me.

Maybe we're over-thinking it. Let's not look too deeply into it. It’s just a ring.

Dad’s university ring from Budapest.

-On the hand of someone who's about to slit his son’s throat. -Michal!

THE FIRST VICTIM IT ALL STARTED HERE. ABRAHAM.

DAMAGED FILE

I’ve got to go.

-At night? -Work.

I’ll call. Bye.

Petr, hang on.

-Any news? -I’m not sure yet,

but it could be important.

-What do you think about that painting? -That dad was right,

Daniel enjoyed provoking him.

It’s exactly his style.

-How long will we have to stay here? -I’ll call you.

-But don’t go anywhere for now, ok? -Ok.

See you later.

-Petr… -Yeah?

Look out for yourself.

You too.

You do not deny knowing Mr Toman?

I don't deny that we knew each other, but I don't understand the sensation

that some media outlets have tried to make of that.

I only raised the issue of whether it wouldn't be reasonable

under such circumstances to decelerate the process. That's it.

But you said you would make a proposal to the government

to suspend the privatisation of Central Energy.

Those are your words, sir.

I never said I wanted to stop the privatisation.

That's semantics, Mr Minister...

HORVAT AND TOMAN - WHICH HAND WASHES WHICH

Point blank: Did you or did you not want CE's privatisation to continue?

In light of the coincidence of two tragic events that were at the very least peculiar,

I merely expressed concern as to whether a proper investigation should come first.

So you no longer think there is something suspicious going on in Central Energy?

Yes?

-May I? -Yeah, come in.

Who’s the Cuban?

That’s granddad.

Dad fished?

Looks like it.

-You don't know? -No.

I've never seen this photo...

He definitely never talked about being a passionate fisherman.

I'm finding out there was a lot of things I didn't know about your father.

That makes two of us.

But he loved us.

He loved us. I'm sure of that.

-Hey. -Hi.

-So how was your trip? -Fine.

The file didn't go through in full, that's why it won't play.

Can you get anything out of it?

Yeah, I’ll be able to save something, but…

-Want a coffee? -Yeah.

Is there any audio?

Nope…

That’s it.

-Did you see the date? -Yeah.

22.10.

The same date as Daniel's suicide.

If the video is related to my brother, and Abraham...

WE HAVE TO MEET.

then that means it had already started in '98, maybe earlier.

I have to take it in.

It’s related to the investigation. I can't pretend I didn't see it.

Can you give me a few days at least?

Can you get something out of it?

Here, not really.

I’d have to take it in to work.

The quality is shit, so there won’t be much.

IMPOSSIBLE.

Fuck.

Write him that if he wants to help then he has to give us more.

Ask him who the people in the video are.

The person who sent it is the only lead right now.

Vlcek is at your policewoman's place.

I thought we had this under control.

-He won’t make any problems. -You sound so sure.

Mr Vlcek has too much free rein.

I’ll send the photos, I think their time has come.

That's not going to help us...

-He's not going to write back. -Would you be able to hack in to his mail?

No, I wouldn't.

I'm not going to do just any old thing you think up.

I shouldn't be helping you at all.

Do you realise the position this puts me in?

But I don’t have anyone else.

-You sent me that video on purpose. -What?

You wanted me to see it and tell you what I know.

Cut it out.

I know you, Petr.

I’m going to my parents’, I’ve got to check on Eva and Michal.

Don’t.

-I assume you've seen Offside. -I just flipped through it. Why?

I just wonder if it bothers you that a report that we had first

is published later by someone else.

How do you know about that?

It's kind of sad when your people have to come to the publisher

to talk me into approving an article that you're blocking.

That girl is unbelievable. It was rubbish, it wasn’t an article.

Well it can’t be complete rubbish

because all the big servers are picking it up and quoting Offside.

Of course they are, they’ll take anything that smells like click-bait,

-but we're not like that, I hope! -Max, we had a good news story,

-and we let it lie. -It’s a tabloid story, not news.

And while we’re talking about what we will and won’t print, look:

we forgot the naked lady in the smutty joke at the end.

-Aren’t you overdoing it a bit? -You saw her article.

You could have printed it, and you didn't.

-Because I trusted your judgment. -And now you don’t?

I’m still the editor-in-chief.

You entrusted the running of this paper to me,

so let me do my job. Or fucking sack me!

Great.

So what've we got?

Martin looked at the two companies in the tender and found out…

Martin?

The companies are EnergyStar and Puissance, or, I think that's how you pronounce it.

EnergyStar is from America, Puissance is a European company.

Have we tried contacting them to get a statement on the situation in CE?

I did call them, they put me through to their press office,

and then they basically just recited their press release.

Classic corporate PR padding:

We regret the tragic events that occurred within such a short term at Central Energy,

but we remain interested in the privatisation.

-So it hasn't put either of them off. -Apparently not.

-Do we have anything else? -Yes, and you'll like it...

EnergyStar has one lobbyist on the payroll right here.

-Who? -Spevacek.

Spevacek? How can he help them?

-Is that official? -I guess so. They're definitely not hiding it.

That is interesting. Anything else?

I'm still ploughing through it. These companies have complicated structures.

Marie will help you.

Me? I thought I'd go to see Spevacek.

I'm sending Petr to do that, he's good at those things.

You try and find out everything there is to know about these two companies.

What are their ties to the Czech Republic, who owns them, etc. etc…

That's all. Good work.

Marie?

I'd like to clarify that matter regarding the director.

-Max... -I don't know if you realise what working in a small team means.

I'll tell you what it means. It means that there has to be absolute trust.

Absolute trust, which you violated when you went behind my back.

I don't care how you feel, or if I hurt your ego.

I'd do it again, because I'm your boss and you're going to respect that.

I've always had people I could trust on my team.

I would like it to remain that way.

That's all.

This came this morning.

-Sender? -We don't know.

-At least we have something before the papers do. -Bit strange, isn't it?

Where do we go from here?

In any case we bring Vlcek back for a chat. He has some explaining to do.

Bring Eva Vlckova in too.

You think Vlcek's covering for her?

We know they didn't kill Toman.

We just don't know why they're lying to us.

Will we have a coffee?

I'm not getting rid of you, eh?

I hope we don't see these photos in the papers tomorrow.

So do I.

Ah, the coffee.

Hello, Mr Vlcek. We’d like to ask you a few questions

about your presence at the death of Mr Toman.

-I told you everything already, gentlemen. -Some new facts have come up

that we'd like to go over with you. Come along.

Oh look. You're his spitting image here.

Yep!

There’s no photos with dad in here.

There's an album full of Petr.

-Maybe your dad took them, I don’t know. -He never showed me anything.

Because it was really hard...

Really hard for your father to decide to go abroad to study economics.

But why? What’s wrong with that?

Hello?

Because your granddad thought Daniel sold out.

He's a big idealist.

After the revolution he thought people would live normal lives, and not just for money.

He shut him out of his life just because of that?

Well, he couldn’t come to terms with it.

He felt like your dad had betrayed him.

I'd love a cup of coffee, since you ask.

Do you think you're in a position to crack jokes?

I think I'm in a position I've been in already.

I already told you everything.

Have you made any progress at all with Central Energy?

I gave you evidence of corruption

and you haven't moved on it, even after six months.

Do you have anything new?

-That's your job, not mine. -Well, back to Toman...

Are you still sticking to the version that you gave us?

I didn't kill him.

-So you were alone at the meeting. -Yes.

-There was no one else there with you? -No.

We’ll ask Mrs Vlckova about that, maybe she'll be more forthcoming.

-She has nothing to do with it. -Then why did you lie to us?

If she had nothing to do with it, as you claim.

She's been through enough since Daniel's death.

-Are you having a relationship with your sister-in-law, Mr Vlcek? -Excuse me?

I asked if you're having a relationship with your sister-in-law.

She's my brother's wife, for fuck’s sake!

Leave her alone! She has nothing to do with this.

So you and Mr Vlcek met at the scene by coincidence, correct?

It wasn't a coincidence.

We each got a text message, but we didn't know the other did.

Do you know who sent the message?

No.

But everything indicates that it was from Ales Toman.

Why?

What reason would he have to invite you and Mr Vlcek

to the place where he wanted to kill himself.

I don't know.

Ask him about Stela Nemeckova.

Does the name Stela Nemeckova mean anything to you?

We’re acquainted.

And what is the nature of your acquaintance? Lovers?

Have you decided to try to solve the case through my sex life?

Miss Nemeckova is working a case that you are up to your neck in, Mr Vlcek.

So I don’t think it’s an aimless question.

I would almost call it a conflict of interests.

How long have you known Mr Vlcek?

-What does that have to do with anything? -Please answer the question.

My husband and I met in '93. So I met Petr around the same time.

How would you characterise your relationship?

As a normal one.

Why do you think Mr Vlcek lied to us about your presence at the scene?

To protect me and my son.

Did you trust him?

That's everything.

Then can I go?

Eva? What are you doing here?

They brought me in for questioning.

They had photos of us from that night with Toman.

-Where did they get them? -I have no idea. Where's Michal?

Don't worry, he's alright.

-Good afternoon. -Good afternoon.

Jana Skalova, state prosecutor.

Thank you for coming.

I knew your husband, I'm sorry about what happened.

-Where did you get those photos? -They came this morning, anonymously.

That's quite handy.

We just needed to clarify a few things.

Neither of you are presently under suspicion of anything.

If that makes you feel any better.

So we're here for the last time?

That's kind of up to you, Mr Vlcek.

If you're really telling the truth, then you have an amazing ability

to turn up at the wrong place every time.

And strangely, you drag those around you down with you.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Come on.

-What are you going to do now? -I'll stay here for a bit.

I can't stay holed up for the rest of my life.

Fine, but make sure Michal stays put, ok?

Are you alright?

They asked me if I trust you.

I still hate you, but...

I don't know who else I can trust.

-Do you want a lift? -I’ll take the tram. Where’s your car?

-Hi. -Well look who's come to see us.

-I was at the cop shop for more questions. -What now?

They got photos of me and Eva at Toman's suicide.

-Photos? -Yeah, photos.

Whoever is orchestrating this, they didn't go into it unprepared.

What did you tell them? The truth.

-That she has nothing to do with it. -Have you spoken to Marie?

-Not yet. -We're working on those profiles

of the two companies in the tender for the privatisation of Central Energy.

-EnergyStar and Puissance? -Guess who the Yanks got to lobby for them.

-Who? -Spevacek.

Spevacek, eh?

I was thinking you might try and get him talking. What do you say?

Will you do it?

Max, I'm not exactly focused on work at the moment...

Fine, that's how you always did your best interviews anyway.

That's my boy.

-Hi. -Hi.

Who's writing you?

-See you. -Bye.

-Hi there. -He wrote back... Ah, thanks.

Yeah, I know. I just read it.

Hang on a sec...

So?

Poupetova St. That's where your answers are.

Yeah, that's the address of Sramek's gallery.

Yeah well it's also the address of the Anti-Corruption Archive.

He's just toying with us. He won't tell us anything.

-What are you doing now? -I have a meeting with Spevacek, we'll talk afterwards, okay?

What about the video? Any progress?

I’m going to the office now, I’ll try to clean up the image.

Ok. Bye.

Yeah, sure...

I’ll be in touch, take care.

-Spevacek. -Vlcek. Pleased to meet you.

Thanks for making time for me.

You’re here because of Toman, Mr Vlcek.

May I?

I’ll just turn it on...

Please do.

One doesn't have to be a genius to figure it out.

Actually I'm more interested in your role in the privatisation of CE.

But since you mention it...

-Did you know each other well? -Toman and I?

We owned several properties together.

-You did business together? -It's a pretty small pond.

After a while, you start running into people whether you want to or not.

Is that why you also look for offers from abroad?

I like you.

You have a lot of your brother in you.

Yes, EnergyStar asked me to help them with certain... obstacles.

How should I understand that?

Certainly not the way you think you understand it.

EnergyStar merely hired me as a competent, or so I hope, middleman.

I have the advantages of speaking Czech, and being able to familiarise them

with the facts on the ground in this country without mincing words.

You don't expect me to believe that you're simply their interpreter?

Interpreter? That would be funny.

I would love for you to see all the bureaucracy it all entails.

My brother sent me some rather interesting documents before he died.

It looks like one of the companies in the tender sent him large sums of money.

Let’s take your premise, about the evil, corrupt Spevacek,

lackey to the American devils, and play it out hypothetically.

-Your theory has one basic flaw. -And that is?

Why would I bribe the director of Central Energy?

Or why would anyone else? How would it help them? Excuse me...

-Hello, is everything satisfactory? -As always, thank you.

I'd bribe every cabinet member with a say in the privatisation,

because that would be a worthwhile investment,

if I wanted to do what you suggest.

But the director of Central Energy? Why?

-The post, please. -Yes...

-Here you are. -Thanks. -You're welcome.

Hello, Mr Sramek isn't here today? I called, but I guess...

You are nothing if not persistent.

But I have to disappoint you, Mr Sramek really isn't here today.

That is, if you're here to see him and not just me.

I need to pull everything you have on the privatisation of CE underway.

-Are you looking for something specific? -I am.

I'm interested in the companies involved, EnergyStar and Puissance.

That doesn't ring any bells. But we do have a couple things on CE, of course.

-A couple? -Come with me.

Last time it was one small folder.

Because that was for a specific person. This is a mishmash.

What does that mean?

A lot of the things that come to us, or that we dig up somewhere on our own,

are tied to all kinds of cases. We haven't been up and running that long.

We are just learning how to assess and categorise this information.

So I see!

When you finish up here, would you like to go for a coffee or something?

Why not?

Or maybe more like dinner?

-I’ll leave you to it then. -Thanks.

I like flowers.

I overdid it in the questioning.

-Am I interrupting? -Not really.

I know I’m a bit hard on the people I work with,

but it’s only because I need to be able to rely on them.

Your relationship with Petr Vlcek is a problem.

I don’t think it was you who leaked the information on Central Energy,

but I’m not sure of it, either.

Could there be anything you want to tell me?

No.

If you change your mind, you’ve got my number.

Isn't there anything you want to tell me?

We could be a good team.

Thanks.

It’s nice...

Having your own restaurant.

You can have a drink,

they cook up what you like.

You don’t have to pay, or at least you think you don’t.

It’s fantastic.

They say you're one of few people capable of reaching agreements with politicians.

Reaching agreements with politicians is impossible. At least in this country.

It's easier elsewhere?

You're sure to have noticed how often the government changes here, Mr Vlcek.

How do you want to reach an agreement with someone

who doesn't know where he'll be in two years.

But really, who cares about this?

People want to live in the present.

So the past is not important to you?

Just write this in your article:

That I'm insanely rich...

Or that I'm openly gay. God knows why, but people still get excited about that.

Oh, and most of all don't forget to say that I donate to charity.

That will piss lots of people off, make others dewy-eyed.

It makes no odds to me.

Tonight I want to donate loads of money to children's oncology.

I'll end up buying half of Sramek’s gallery again, if I know myself.

There’s going to be a charity auction that he hosts every year.

Everyone will be there.

Will I see you there?

-Maybe. -Well come then.

It’ll be fun.

That is... as fun as a party for sick children can be.

That's bullshit.

-You can't know that. -There's one thing I know for sure.

People like Horvat or Spevacek aren't stupid.

Why would they sign a cooperation agreement? It doesn’t make sense.

Because it's about big money, Max!

What more do you want from me? I grub around in archives,

I go to every stupid press conference just to get something out of someone!

-Do you want to know what I want? -Yeah.

I want you to finally start acting like a fucking professional.

And not a goddamn amateur!

Am I supposed to explain how journalism works to you?

That you can’t just print whatever you get your hands on?

-That’s not what I want! -Do you know what this piece of paper would mean?

That Horvat had a commitment to Toman and Spevacek

that the state would give the deal to EnergyStar,

and they even agreed beforehand how much they’d get for the sham!

They didn’t think they’d get caught and they had good reason not to,

because according to the stamp the contract was signed somewhere in Zurich.

It was an insurance policy.

Have you verified whether the contract was actually there?

-Not yet, but... -Get out of here, Marie.

Go on, get out!

Oh fuck...

That can’t be...

Yes, Stela?

Slow down, Stela...

Stela, calm down...

What girl?

Jesus Christ...

Do you get this?

-They let a child burn to death in there. -Did you I.D. the guy on the ground?

No, you know how the quality is.

I also tried pulling the file on missing children since 1995.

I drew a blank there too.

There has to be a connection, or he wouldn’t have sent the video.

If there is, then I honestly don't see it.

Not yet.

I can’t keep this back anymore, not after this.

-This is serious. I can't pretend I didn't see anything. -I know.

There’s a charity auction in Sramek’s gallery tonight.

"Your answers are there".

He didn't mean the Anti-Corruption Archive, he's leading us to the gallery event.

-Are you sure? -Of course, Spevacek said it himself.

"Everyone will be there".

It's a neat coincidence, isn't it?

That we get the address of the gallery on the day of this event.

-And you think the people from the video will be there too? -Maybe.

-Maybe our anonymous writer as well. -Going there is one thing,

but who do you want to look for? You don't know what they look like.

What do you want to do?

Get a guide.

How?

-So I’m off. -Okay.

-How long will you be? -I don’t know, not long I hope.

Well, I'll be here.

-Hi. -Hi.

-Now will you finally explain what’s going on? -I got an email,

I think somebody’s trying to help me out.

They might be here tonight.

Why don’t they just meet with you?

-I guess they’re afraid. -And what’s your plan?

-Jump in to the water with these sharks, and hope to find him? -Exactly.

-And what do I do while you’re out swimming? -You name the sharks.

-Eva! -Hi.

-You look splendid. -Thanks.

This is Petr Vlcek, Daniel's brother.

Ah, I kept thinking you reminded me of someone.

-Sramek. -Vlcek.

I follow your work in Kontext. Will you be writing about our auction?

I’m not sure yet. Would that be a problem?

No, not at all!

But I don’t have to authorise it, do I?

Well, have a good time and a nice evening.

-I’m sure we’ll meet again. -Certainly. -The hairstyle's lovely.

Ah, Mr Banker!

Good evening, Mr Niedermayer, I’m glad you could come. Have a nice evening.

-Eva, hi. -Hi.

Have you come to finish your article, Mr Vlcek?

Perhaps.

You've got a nose on you.

Do you think this is about child oncology?

Take a look around.

Charity!

Lots of people don’t even know what the word means.

There’s just looking after their agendas, they have business to do.

Do you also have business to do, an agenda, Mr Spevacek?

You're the investigative journalist.

Try a little.

Ladies and gentlemen, could I ask for your attention?

It won't be for long. I promise.

We would like to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.

-Thank you all… -Who’s the guy with Spevacek and Horvat?

…for having been, and continuing to be so generous.

There’s only a few paintings left looking for an owner, and that’s good news.

Frederik Bouvair.

…but most importantly for the children's oncology ward.

He's the CEO of Puissance.

I can tell you that Mr Sramek is truly serious about art.

Just before the auction, I managed to sell him

my own scribbling on a paper napkin for 20 000 crowns.

I don’t know what you’re going to do with it, but...

That's the other company that wants Central Energy privatised?

You'd almost never know they're competitors.

Spevacek works for EnergyStar, does he not?

At that level it doesn’t matter anymore.

You just wait to see who wins.

What about your anonymous tip-off?

I don’t know where to begin, I don’t know what they look like, I don’t know anything.

Well whatever you do, don’t do anything stupid, ok?

Good evening.

Good evening.

I’d like to tell you,

that I’ve contributed 2000 crowns to tonight’s collection.

Bravo!

I know that's probably not going to bowl any of you over.

You're all so dedicated.

I was thinking whether even I could dedicate something to a good cause.

And I don't mean just with money.

But "dedication"...

isn't just about doing good, unfortunately.

Sometimes a fellow’s got to do something he usually wouldn’t.

Real dedication is about going beyond one's borders.

Stepping out of the light into the darkness.

Like it was, for example, with Abraham.

God asked him to sacrifice his son.

Promising he would become the father of nations, the ruler of man's fate.

If someone promised something like that to us,

what all would we be willing to sacrifice?

Thanks.

-What was that supposed to be? -I don’t know.

-Where are you going? -I’ll be right back. -Petr...

Four poor fools filled four pools full.

Four poor fools filled four pools full.

Four poor fools filled four pools full.

Four poor fools filled four pools full.

Four poor fools...

-Mr Vlcek? -Yes?

Stop acting like you have nothing to lose, Vlcek.

Because you do.

Hello?

-That was stupid, what you did. -Who are you?

You're bluffing, but they don't care.

They're not going to let you or your loved ones go.

-Whose child was that? -And that’s all you’re getting out of me.

Why did Daniel have to die?

-And Toman? -25 years.

What 25 years?

I don’t understand, what are you talking about?

-It's been going on 25 years now. -What happened 25 years ago?

To understand the evil, you have to go back 25 years.

Tell me who you are.

You still don't get it.

-You're never going to win. -Then help me.

-Hey! -Pardon

It's not over yet.

What’s not over? For fuck's sake talk to me!

What happened?

-Petr? -Huh?

-What happened? -Hang on, hang on... -Petr!

Excuse me, pardon.

-Well? -Silver Superb.

Okay, sure.

I’ve got him. I’ve got him!

3 6 3 6 4.

6 3 6 4.

Whoa, whoa whoa!

-Hey watch out! -Are you out of your mind, fuck off!

-You might as well come for a drink! -Fuck off!

Well drive on then!

Where are you!

-Well? -He got away.

But I’ve got his plate number. Come on, get in.

Brilliant.

Come on, get a move on!

Come on!

-What's with you? -I got one in the gob.

-From who? -I don’t know.

Thanks again for your help. I'll be in touch.

Did you have a good time?

What are you doing here?

Get out of my home.

You don't want to wake your wife.

Or your kids.

They are beautiful.

They've grown so much since last I saw them.

Leave us alone.

I’m not telling him anything.

He has the right to know everything about his dad. You can't keep it from him.

-He's an adult for christ's sake. -You're doing it again.

-What am I doing? -You want him to end up like his dad? Is that what you want?

translation and subtitles Christian Falvey