Original subtitles

FOREST OF THE MISSING

BLACK FOREST, GERMANY NOVEMBER 2021

Come on...

Come on, come on.

No signal.

Fucking network!

STRASBOURG, FRANCE ONE YEAR LATER

This may be the biggest investigation...

Mum?

I was looking all over.

Ten bodies have already been found on this military site

in Rötenbach, Baden-Württemberg.

What's up?

Here is Birgit Schollz, head of the State Criminal Police.

Our investigation Is ongoing.

But we will use all our analytical and criminology resources...

Can I help you, madam?

And the identity of the victims?

Madam? Can I help you?

Huh? No.

- Are they men, women? - We're just starting.

Forensics is working on the site. I can't tell you any more.

- Any background? - Thank you.

Please...

All our analytical and criminology resources. Wow!

- You sell the dream. - What should I say?

We'll be led by a grumpy cop past his prime?

No, a handsome, straight, white male, worth a visit.

Spit it out.

- We're waiting for someone. - Who?

- Boss. - Hello.

Commander Erik Maes.

Captain Franz Agerland.

I know.

I followed the butcher of Hanover case.

Really? I don't remember you.

At the time, I was working over in Strasbourg.

Well done. You did a good job.

Given German police resources at the time.

- Hello. - Hi, Zelda.

Zelda Bloch, forensic technician.

Okay. Can we begin or are there more?

11 bodies buried, all pretty old.

Our pathologist will give you the rundown.

It's a big case, so a lot of pressure.

That's why I need you both on battle footing.

Who leads?

Erik will head the investigation.

Franz, I expect you...

You know what I expect.

Keep me informed.

If anyone makes trouble, send them to me.

Excuse me.

Birgit.

Why do I need someone for an investigation?

He got results in the drug squad.

- He's a commander, you're a captain. - Oh, a commander.

He should be dining with politicians, giving seminars in Berlin. I don't know.

I'm warning you, Franz. If you have a problem, you're off the team.

You don't really mean that.

Keep those journalists away.

And tell everyone I'm in charge.

- Very good. - Okay.

What was that with the TVs?

Nothing. I was listening.

You embarrassed me.

When you had blue hair and a nose ring, you embarrassed me.

Very funny.

We need to go to the chemist.

Mum, we've been there.

Oh, yes.

Are we going, Mum?

Isa Lang?

- Yes. - Erik Maes.

- Where are you up to with the bodies?

- Hello, Franz. - Yeah, hello.

Where are you up to, Isa?

We're up to 11, but we're still searching.

Over here! We found something!

That makes 12.

A grim find on the Franco-German border.

The Baden-Württemberg crime squad confirmed the discovery

of about ten bodies buried on military land in Rötenbach,

30 kilometres from Strasbourg.

Mum, what are you doing?

I forgot something. I'll see you later.

Shit.

So you're the gamekeeper.

- Did you raise the alarm, Ms Katz?

Some walkers got lost. Their dog found a femur.

What do you mean, lost?

This is a military zone. Off-limits.

Clearly not to all.

An oft-limits military zone is ideal for hiding bodies.

Right, thank you. We'll be in touch.

Any time.

How long have they been here?

We thought it was a mass grave from the war.

But most are 10-15 years old,

SO it's a wide range.

This is the most recent, only a few months old.

The peat has preserved it.

Were they all positioned face-down?

Yes. They nearly all have a bullet in the neck.

A handgun fired at point-blank range probably.

What are you thinking?

Look. The head is perfectly in line.

Not tilted to left or right.

No one falls like that, not after a bullet in the neck.

Suicides used to be buried like that.

Laid facing hell to punish them.

Why did these need punishing?

A case like this is guaranteed promotion for you.

You know we haven't caught anyone?

Well, for a cop like you it'll only take two days.

Maybe three.

Gentlemen.

Let me introduce our guests.

Okay.

We have 12 victims. The oldest one goes back a bit,

but the most recent was buried just a few months ago.

No ID.

No fingerprints, no tattoos, no rings.

No apparent link between the victims.

Except they're all men.

Yeah.

Same type, killed the same way. It makes It seem like a maniac.

We'll avoid hasty conclusions so soon. It could be anyone.

Well, one can always speculate.

So, 1 and 10 don't have bullets in the neck?

Right.

There's a reason for any anomaly.

The occipital bone looks fractured.

No doubt that's the cause of death.

And what's this?

You have a good eye. Two fractured ribs.

Clean breaks.

Bullet wounds?

The bones have calcified, so pre-death?

Yes, a year or two. And given the damage, large calibre.

- A military weapon. - Possibly.

A soldier.

A soldier buried in a military zone.

Yes, a lot of military.

They'll be here in 2 hours. Where are you?

You can't get through, madam.

- Just over there. - Impossible.

It's closed. You have to go back. Sorry.

Excuse me. Is there a problem?

No, I just need to cross over {0 get to...

To?

- Garbicz? - Yes, Garbicz.

- Just the other side. - You're on the wrong road.

Garbicz is 900 kilometres away, Judge.

Yeah.

- I must have taken the wrong shortcut.

Safe journey.

Did you request cooperation?

No. Why?

She's a French judge.

Camille Hartmann was the liaison judge between Strasbourg and our force.

- Was? - Yes.

Apparently, she has amnesia.

She hasn't worked since she had a car accident.

What do you think she wanted?

Are we on friendly terms already?

Don't worry about me, it's fine.

Well, if it's okay with you.

According to Julien,

osteopathy, chiropractic and shiatsu are all charlatanism.

Thanks. Marc will think I'm an idiot now.

Some osteopaths tell you they can treat anything.

Don't see them again.

We say bad osteos don't last long.

Fatima, say what you like, but it's more complicated.

Not really. She's 14, he's 28, and he's her teacher.

There can't be consent.

- The girl defended the accused. - So what? She's 14,

There's neither victim nor damage.

It's not a judge's job to invent culprits.

I said don't sit them together.

No, listen. A girl of 14 sleeps with her 28-year-old teacher.

You think “underage sex, absence of informed consent,

moral coercion by person in authority.”

So he's assured a prison sentence.

But no. Six months suspended. And not even banned from teaching.

Why put him in prison? To protect whom?

Other pupils and the age of consent.

The law then left it to judges to weigh the situation.

- Judges! - Yes.

We know which way every situation goes with you.

- Stop drinking. - Please don't patronise me.

Camille, what do you think? You're a judge too.

Well, I...

I realise the verdict may seem lenient, but I don't know.

I haven’t read the case.

Thank you, Camille.

But I've told you what the case is. I explained it all.

- I'll get the next course. - Can I help?

No, I'm fine.

Well done, Fatima.

- It's good, isn't it? - Very good.

Thanks for your support.

You piss me off. You turn dinner into a wrestling match.

Aren't I right? Isn't he always on men's side?

Remember the Naouri case? Or nominations for the appeal court?

Not a single woman.

He's the worst misogynist since Jack the Ripper.

Maybe, but my reinstatement IS on his desk.

My career is in his hands. Understand?

Camille, wake up.

Your career will always be in the hands of a bastard.

It's always up here. Yes...

- That's original. - Why not? It's up to her.

I make quiches that look like tarts. Or tarts that look like quiches.

Don't worry, darling. It's my fault.

All right?

I brought dessert before the main.

True.

It doesn't matter. At worst, they'll think you wanted it over.

It does matter. Grimbert will think I'm crazy.

I can't stand doing nothing.

I want to work again.

Calm down.

Grimbert won't blame you for a mistake over a tart.

- You don't know him. He's a misogynist. - Yeah, I realised that.

Fatima was really angry. What went on in the kitchen?

She said a bastard would always control my life.

Did she mean me?

Did she mean me?

Hey! Is this when you come home? It's one o'clock.

Give me a break.

It's worse than North Korea here. It's crazy.

Amazing.

We must choose our battles.

What a surprise.

You know that I want you just like this?

Shit! Who turned off the Wi-Fi?

- What? - Doesn't matter.

She didn’t see.

Right.

Left.

As if you were watching tennis.

Right. Left.

Are the headaches back?

Yes, sometimes.

And what day is it?

I'm not mad.

I know what day it is, who I am and where I am,

but it's just that...

I feel a sort of anxiety, expectation.

Expecting what?

To go back to work. The inactivity is driving me mad.

And if I ask you what my name is?

Eva.

Eva Stein.

Dr Eva Stein.

I did a scan. The haematoma is still there.

There's still a risk of haemorrhage.

She must avoid excessive activity, strong emotions,

anything creating tension here where the bone fragment is loose.

- Otherwise... - The psychiatric ward?

No. Otherwise, she'll be dead.

Shit...

Has anything happened recently to cause her stress

that would explain this confusion?

Since the accident, not much has been normal, so...

Nothing unusual? Images coming back or fragments of memories?

No, I don't think so.

NO.

She hardly leaves the house.

Her life hasn't been easy.

She had to handle her husband's death when Iris was tiny.

She's a fighter.

The best would be tranquillisers.

Right.

On top of all the rest?

I'd like another option.

Sorry...

MILITARY BASE OFFENBURG GERMANY

Your deserter could match one of the victims.

Gustav Kuhn was a good soldier, a sound, reliable man.

Not a deserter.

He distinguished himself In dangerous operations.

He had a bright future.

- Was he injured in the chest? - Yes, in Afghanistan.

Covering his unit's retreat.

Hit by a Kalashnikov.

- You think it's his body? - Possibly.

He disappeared last year. The dates match.

- Did you report his disappearance? - Of course.

The military police found nothing.

Civilian police concluded desertion.

It would seem that you were wrong.

The bodies were discovered on your land, Colonel.

In a military zone.

None of my men would commit such an atrocity, if that's your angle.

Especially not on our land.

I lead an elite battalion here.

There are no common law criminals.

The army doesn’t keep its mad dogs.

You don't go to war with a bunch of choirboys, Colonel.

I don't know if I'm relieved or sad.

That must seem odd to you.

No.

My sister was pregnant when Gustav disappeared.

It was a shock for her.

Did he mention any tensions in the regiment?

Any rivalries, disputes?

No.

Can you tell us about the day he disappeared?

It was the 14th of November.

They had major manoeuvres all day.

He came home, he was exhausted.

He had a shower and then he went out running.

After a day of manoeuvres he went running?

In November, too.

It must have been dark. Did he often do that?

Since his injury he was different.

More distant.

He survived a chest injury

and develops a sudden passion for running at night.

Did he run alone?

Yes. He always ran alone.

Did you find his papers or wallet?

No?

So, your ex went running at night

in the middle of winter fresh from his convalescence

after a day of manoeuvres

with his wallet.

Did he take his car keys too?

Thank you very much, Ms Kuhn. You've been very helpful.

Let's go.

Are you okay?

What?

Your questions are as subtle as bricks.

I ask to get answers. I'm not a social worker.

- He was cheating. - Walt!

No kidding.

Maryam suffered enough with Gustav.

Yes, he went running after manoeuvres.

Everyone here knew that.

The question isn't where he ran, but who he ran after.

'll go.

- Hello, Ms Hartmann. - Hello, Thomas.

- My mum asked me to return this. - Yes, come in.

Thomas?

Your dad often went to Germany, right?

Yes.

He hunted in the Black Forest, didn't he?

What do you want to know, Ms Hartmann?

Is it because of all these bodies?

I Know you hunted there with him.

No, that was his thing.

I never went hunting.

You’d tell me if he’d been in touch?

Ms Hartmann, I can't thank you enough for supporting Mum and me.

But it's almost a year since my father left.

It's the best thing to have happened.

Wherever he is, he can stay there.

Yes. Sorry, I didn't mean to stir up bad memories.

No, it's fine. But if you could avoid it with Mum...

She's moved on.

Of course.

Thank you.

- I must go. - Yes.

Thank you.

Thomas just left.

Finish it off.

Thomas?

Thomas, wait.

What happened?

What did you talk about?

You're like your mum.

Asking questions all the time.

It's not that. She's been weird all day so I wanted to know.

Okay. What can I do about it?

Nothing. We're just talking.

Is this a game?

You're a team? She's bad cop, you're good cop?

Tell her I don't know where my dad is, okay?

It's nothing like that. I'm not crazy like my mum.

I'm not a bastard like my dad.

Okay.

Okay. I know you're not like your dad.

You're an idiot.

You see?

I make you freak out too.

What's this?

Okay?

Here.

Why are you giving me more?

I can't stand the pills. They knock me out.

I need a clear head.

I know, but... you heard what the doctor said.

Look. I found it.

That's it. The car that hit me.

It was hidden under some trees.

It's not your memory playing tricks?

- Do you think I'm incompetent now? - No, I didn't say that.

I investigated 237 criminal cases In 15 years.

I solved homicides, robberies, assaults.

Do you think that all disappears?

No, I don't.

But your confusion and panic attacks do worry me.

I don't want to take any more drugs. I'm not myself.

But you must take care of yourself.

Look at me.

If anything happened to you,

legally, for Iris, I'm nobody.

Can we meet up to talk?

Why?

Why not?

I'm not a good person. We must stop meeting

You are a good person

I want to see you, Thomas

OFFENBURG SUBURBS GERMANY

Gustav Kuhn came here after training?

It's the only one in the area.

Strange place to go running.

Yeah. Seems like a good hunting ground, doesn't it?

Here they are.

Isa, I'll put you on speaker.

I've done further tests on No. 10.

Your soldier, Gustav Kuhn, had lymphogranuloma venereum.

Isn’t that an STD?

I see you know your stuff.

But we say STI these days.

And it's the same STI as No. 11.

Isa, Erik. Have we identified No. 117

No, not yet. Just his description.

About 50. Wide hips, vertebral compression, collapsed arches.

A heavyweight.

The kind to share an STI here. Thanks.

Bye, Isa.

I know the manager.

Strangely, I'm not surprised.

He's an old informer. Let me talk to him.

Captain Agerland.

Your usual?

You remember me?

I’m touched.

Sorry, we only have girls here.

He's a client. He was here on 14 November 2021, around ten.

I have a very bad memory.

We thought you would have.

Open the door.

Open it.

- You have no right. - Yes, we do.

Open the door.

We'll leave them to refresh your memory.

They're all perfectly arranged by name and date.

There's a disc missing.

Célia.

Guess what date.

14 November.

I don't understand.

Really?

Manfred...

LKA, CRIMINAL POLICE KARLSRUHE, GERMANY

Hello...

Thank you for coming in.

He's good, but a bit green.

But are his shoulders broad enough?

This case needs brains, not shoulders.

He reminds me of you 20 years ago.

Erik is very different, but you share the drive for justice.

Ms Wenders, you work under the name of Célia?

I've changed my working name since.

Since when?

Since that day.

That day was 14 November?

How do you know?

Did you know you were filmed 24/7?

We thought so.

One of your videos is missing.

The one from the day we're interested In.

Do you remember this man?

With the barracks next door we saw lots of soldiers.

You're in about ten videos with him.

You should remember him.

Gustav Kuhn.

This soldier was clearly special,

given that your boss made one of his videos disappear.

Ms Wenders.

What happened that night?

That night I lost my eye.

I'd have lost my life if not for him.

Who do you mean?

Gustav.

He said he loved me.

I really thought something good would happen for once.

But it was the opposite.

Célia!

- Célia, it's Gustav. Are you okay? - Wait your turn.

Célia!

Hello, Ms Wenders.

Have you been offered a drink?

Thank you.

Are you cold?

Do you remember what happened next?

He dragged his body like a piece of game. Took it away.

I let him do it.

You say he was dead but are you sure?

You know a dead man when you see one.

What about your boss?

Ex-boss.

I work around the station now.

In more salubrious establishments,

a one-eyed whore brings in nothing.

How did your ex-boss react?

He took me to hospital.

He asked me never to talk about what happened.

With his record, he said he'd have been blamed for everything.

He'd have had to close.

What do you want?

The man who beat her.

Had he been before?

He must be in your collection.

My collection?

I want Celia’s footage from 14 November.

Or I'll charge you as an accessory to murder.

Okay. I'll tell you where it is.

KARLSRUHE GERMANY

Thank you!

You were very restless in bed. Did you sleep okay?

Yeah. I dreamt about Franz, would you believe?

If I knew he'd traumatise you, I'd have picked another partner.

Come here.

Does he know about us?

No. It's bound to come out. You know the force.

Why don't you move in here?

Seriously?

You're here a lot more than at your place, so...

'll take that as a yes.

Okay. What time do you start?

Can you give me a lift? Right now would be great.

- What's up? - A maths test.

I need to revise before, so it'd be great if...

But you look Ill. Why not rest up in bed?

- Very funny. - What's up?

I think she's seeing Thomas.

Have you looked at my phone?

Not at all.

But I'm not new to this. I see things.

You wear me out. You're real nutters.

- I'm being good. - Great.

Right, come on, Mum. Can we go?

- Me? - Yes, come on.

- Bye! - See you later.

- See you tonight. - Have a good day.

Could you remember to get bread for tonight?

Have a good day. See you tonight.

- I'm off, Mum. - Okay.

Call me?

Yes?

- Judge? - Yes.

Erik Maes, Commander of the Criminal Police in Karlsruhe.

- We need to talk. - What about?

14 November 2021.

ONE YEAR EARLIER

Sit down.

That's it. Calm down.

Sit down. You'll be all right.

What's going on?

Bertrand beat her.

I'm sorry. Forgive me.

This can't go on.

- Where's your dad? - At home.

I'll go to see him.

Iris is asleep. You stay here while we help your mum.

You take her to hospital so they record all her injuries.

I'll handle the police.

Jeanne, I'm taking you to hospital, okay?

Camille, be careful.

This is Judge Hartmann.

I need police at 6 Rue du Tournant, Strasbourg.

Domestic violence.

20 minutes?

What do you mean, not a priority?

Tell Superintendent Mercier to meet me there.

I'll be there in five minutes.

No, I don't have a search warrant yet.

Where's the judge?

No one's here, Superintendent. It's empty.

And the husband, Bertrand Montal?

Must have done a runner.

And I don't think he'll be back soon. He's on probation.

Superintendent? Come and see.

Thanks.

This guy is crazy.

LOOK.

There's a lot more than just hunting weapons.

My God...

Don't touch anything. Call your colleagues.

'll call the prosecutor's office.

No one saw you at the Montal's house. Where did you go?

I suppose I followed Bertrand Montal.

You suppose?

Don't you remember what you did?

I had an accident that night.

Since then, I've had transient global amnesia from a head injury.

I've forgotten the whole night.

I'm very sorry.

But your injury might not be due to an accident.

Could Bertrand Montal have tried to kill you too?

I don’t know. But I have no better explanation.

He was the type. His record included violence and prison.

Bertrand Montal killed Gustav Kuhn, one of their clients.

I'm not surprised.

Everyone was scared of him, especially his son.

- His son? - Thomas, yes.

He's close to my daughter.

Then we have a problem, Ms Hartmann.

Your man, Bertrand Montal, has just been identified

as one of the military zone victims.

He was buried a year ago.

But the murders continued.

So if he was the Black Forest killer, someone has taken over.

So, do you still think I'm scared of you?

Subtitles © SBS Australia 2023