[eerie music]
[demonic music]
[backwards sounds]
[theme music]
THE CRIMSON RIVERS
REDEMPTION
[distant sirens]
[beeping]
[indistinct chatter]
[Canto] Did you check the other side too? Still nothing?
All right, thanks.
Nobody saw or heard anything.
He got onto the roof, so he knows the place.
- It's someone from the Institute. - We've started questioning staff.
Background checks too, but in all honesty...
I agree, they don't fit the profile. Still, plague bacteria is kept here.
Got anything from the mask and cape?
It's being analysed, but right now, nothing.
- We haven't discussed the big clue. - What's that?
"End of the line, mate". What does it mean?
It's something us guys used to say
when we cracked a big case and caught some big fish.
We also said it when everything went tits up
and the guys got away.
- It was a whole era, right? - Hmm.
It doesn't make sense.
The killer wants us to think he was in my unit,
or that he knew us.
Did your guys have wives or kids?
No, you know it's not a job where you look to start a family.
Fontenay got married, then divorced.
I can't believe we haven't found him yet.
- Could he be our killer? - No, that's impossible.
For him, being a cop was more than just a job.
It was his whole life.
According to our research, on 18th January 1998,
your unit was working three cases.
The first involved a gang
that raided ATMs on the Right Bank.
Yeah, I remember that. We caught them red-handed.
All right. Those guys got out years ago.
They either went straight or ended up back in jail,
so we can forget that one.
A Colombian killer suspected of being in Paris to carry out a hit.
That was a bust.
- He just passed through. - OK.
And the third case involved one Jérôme Savarolle.
- What about Jérôme Savarolle? - Yeah, I heard you.
A first-class robber, jailed in 1990 for a bank job,
released in 1997 for good behaviour,
then suspected of robbing a jeweller's eight months later
on Avenue Montaigne.
Hmm.
And?
And you remember what happened to him, right?
Yes, I remember. He killed himself.
- His body was found in his home. - Exactly, his body.
But not his accomplices, nor the stolen goods.
40 million francs.
That'd be around six million euros nowadays.
Hmm.
You think this case is linked to our plague case?
[laugh]
Can you come with me?
- Where are we going? - Just be patient. You'll like this.
[knock on door]
Hello.
These two are from Internal Affairs.
- Aren't you at Place Beauvau? - In emergencies, we do house calls.
- Yeah? Why the hell are you here? - Easy now.
They've kindly brought us some files regarding our case.
Files on Morillon, Casadesus,
- files on Paredes... - Hold on, Canto.
Tell me you didn't... Why'd you do it?
I didn't do anything.
Internal Affairs have had them in their sights for a long time.
They don't really know how,
but your little friends managed to slip through the net.
That's all. They'll explain the rest.
[woman] This will be quick. We prepared a briefing.
Behind his hermit façade,
Morillon owned a dozen or so apartments.
Casadesus could easily blow 10,000 euros at poker in a night.
Paredes, upon his death, left behind a villa in Cannes.
- As for Blanchet... - All right, all right.
We worked together for 10 years, I don't need to hear this bullshit.
No, I bet you don't.
How about you read them at home? With a clear head?
You, Niémans, with your big mouth, you're always preaching.
But I've told you before, you need to be clean for that.
Yeah, I'm clean. How about you? Let's see, you arsehole!
- Hey! Calm down. - You, shut up! Shut your mouth!
I save your fucking life and you set Internal Affairs on me?
That's the best you could do?
Nice move, dickhead.
Arsehole...
Thanks.
[mournful music]
Got a cigarette?
You quit smoking.
Can't I change my mind?
[sighs]
- What's going on? - Nothing. Why?
Niémans, I know you.
You don't get worked up for nothing.
You're pissing me off.
Come on, get in.
Get in!
[engine starts]
[engine off]
[window motor whirs]
Where to?
Savarolle's place.
He may be dead, but his house is still there.
Nobody's touched it for 20 years.
- Who killed Savarolle? - He killed himself.
Niémans!
[sighs]
Back then, my guys were suspects, but there was no evidence.
When we got there, his body was already rotting.
So 18th January 1998 could be the day he died.
More or less.
If your guys killed him, maybe they split the loot.
You coming?
Yeah.
[engine starts]
[window motor whirs]
[dramatic music]
The person killing your ex-colleagues believes they killed Savarolle.
Did he have family?
No, none.
Nobody was ever found to lay claim to his house.
[knocking]
[dog barking in distance]
[thud]
[both cough]
We really need to find Fontenay.
Only he can tell us what happened here.
- Yeah, him and the killer. - Yeah.
[crash, Camille groans]
Camille! Camille!
Camille, are you all right?
- You all right? - I think so.
Look at me! Camille, grab my hand.
- OK. - Grab my hand.
[Camille groans]
[wood creaking]
- Grab my hand... - Look out!
[thud]
[groaning]
[scraping]
- No, don't! - No!
No, don't do this! Don't fucking do this!
No!
[rats squeak]
Shit... It's all right, Camille!
They're everywhere!
[Camille screams]
They're everywhere! Get us out of here!
Calm down, OK?
Oh, shit!
[Camille cries]
Everything will be OK, Camille.
It'll be OK, it'll be OK.
[smashing]
Don't do that! There's rats there!
[screams]
[Camille whimpers]
[scraping]
Damn!
There's no helping useless twats like you, eh?
Get them out of there.
[rats squeak]
All right, it's all right.
Weren't you meant to help us? Move the case on more quickly?
He was right there. We nearly had him.
- You nearly had him? - Yes!
If I wasn't following you, where'd you be right now?
Give it a rest! I'm sorry, all right? Are we even now?
Yeah, all right...
Fuck's sake.
Did you find out who the house belongs to?
Yeah, Savarolle had no next-of-kin. The house doesn't have an owner.
It returns to the state in 10 years. Until then, it's rotting.
[door closes]
- How are you feeling? - Yeah, all right.
Decontamination won't be enough. You'll need to be screened.
It's highly likely that those rats were infected.
We found Fontenay's address. On the way to Orléans.
The place belongs to his mother.
Niémans here.
Did you call him?
No need. His body was found
in the forest.
The gendarmes say the guy died from the plague.
OK, thanks.
Here... All right, shall we go?
Yeah, let's go.
Niémans! You need to be screened, damn it!
[eerie music]
[rhythmic drumming]
[indistinct chatter on police radio]
[sirens]
2nd June 1996.
This is absurd. My unit didn't even exist in 1996.
All right, I'll look into this new date, then.
Yeah.
Canto, while you're at it...
Check what my colleagues were up to back then.
All right. And what will you be doing?
We'll bring in Fontenay's widow.
He was divorced, but I reckon he must have a mistress somewhere.
- OK. - Thanks.
[Niémans] You don't seem very upset that Pascal has died.
We've been divorced for nearly 20 years.
Why did you separate?
You're a cop, right?
[laugh]
So you know why.
- It's not an easy job. - Especially for family.
How did he die?
Are you sure you really want to know?
No, not really.
You own a townhouse in Neuilly.
That's right.
Did he buy it?
Pascal schemed, but not that much.
It was a family asset.
Does 2nd June 1996 mean anything to you?
Absolutely nothing.
How about 18th January 1998?
Nothing.
However, 1998 was when Pascal started to change.
How so?
He was no longer himself.
- He seemed... How do I put it? - Like he had something to hide?
You could almost say he had regrets.
About what?
I don't know. He never told me.
One day, I even found him crying.
That wasn't like him.
We divorced not long after. That's all I can say.
Sorry I can't be of more help.
All right, let's stop there.
Thanks. You can go now.
Actually, I would like to know.
How did Pascal die?
He died of the plague.
[suspenseful music]
I don't know what the hell we're doing here.
What are you checking? That Savarolle is dead and buried?
I wanted to know if someone is looking after his grave.
- I'd be surprised. - Not so fast...
[clanks]
[man] Hey!
Hey! What the hell are you doing?
It's all right!
Whether you're cops or priests, don't treat the dead like that!
Does someone clean this grave?
- Never seen anyone. - How long has the door been here?
Always has been. I've worked here 10 years.
Well, no need to get angry.
[sighs]
Will some cash help you help us?
- To do what? - To open the door.
Well, if I'm helping you, then that's different.
Yeah, I thought so.
Let's see.
[keys jangle]
Thanks.
[door clangs]
What are those weeds?
Those aren't weeds.
Those plants are meant to cure the plague.
The plague? What do you mean?
[eerie music]
"The righteous is delivered from trouble,
"and the wicked cometh in his stead."
- Camille, take a look at this. - [thud]
Camille!
Camille?
Shit...
Camille? Camille?
[dramatic music]
[rhythmic drumming]
I told you! You needed to be screened!
Would that have changed anything?
Will you be able to save her?
I need to examine her.
- Can you save her, yes or no? - If it's what I think, then no.
With antibiotics, I can buy some time.
How long?
A few hours, a day or two. Now you really need to get tested!
- All right. - Now!
All right!
[sobs]
[heart monitor beeps]
[whimpers]
[respirator runs]
[heart monitor beeps]
So?
- They're examining her. - All right. And you?
Negative. I dodged the bullet.
Well, that's good.
- You're still standing, right? - Hmm.
Where are you at?
According to Internal Affairs,
the ballistics report from Savarolle's death
vanished back in the day.
Undoubtedly because the bullet
that blew his brains out was compromising.
What do you mean? It came from a police gun?
Exactly.
And the autopsy report vanished too.
And your search of Savarolle's house?
Nothing, of course.
No prints, no clues.
- The cemetery? - Again, nothing.
But we're still working on the second date.
OK.
Where are you going?
Just had an idea.
Savarolle didn't have family, but he spent half his life in prison.
I'll go look into it.
OK.
[slow dramatic music]
[door closes]
Niémans! Oh, shit!
Oh! Are you homesick or something?
- Haven't they let you out yet? - Oh, piss off!
In a few months, I'll be retiring. What are you doing round here?
- An old story's cropped back up. - What kind?
Jérôme Savarolle ring any bells?
That certainly does ring some bells!
He must've been here around 15 years.
A lone wolf, quiet, dangerous.
- Yeah. Did he have mates here? - None, he didn't trust anyone.
Any visitors?
What are you looking for, Niémans?
[typing]
If I remember correctly, only his wife came to see him.
His wife? No way, he wasn't married.
Maybe she didn't take his surname, but she was certainly his partner.
A real sailor's wife.
Always waiting.
But the boy was really sweet.
What? He had a kid too?
Yeah, a boy. With big eyes.
He idolised his father, like he was a living god.
Look here.
The wife was called Irène Botsky.
And the boy, Éric Botsky.
Must've been Savarolle's illegitimate son.
And their final visit dates back to 21st March 1996.
You're sure? Not 2nd June 1996?
No.
Why?
No reason.
Thank you, my dear. You've done me a huge favour.
That's good.
- Bye, Niémans. - Bye.
Ciao.
Thanks again.
[phone rings]
- Yeah?- Canto, it's me.
I need the civil registry records for Éric and Irène Botsky.
Who? Botsky?
You said Botsky? Who's that?
Savarolle's wife and kid. No time to explain.
- All right. - I'll see you later, OK?
All right. Where are you going now?
To see Camille.
- All right. - Ciao.
OK, see you later.
[heart monitor beeps]
[ventilator runs]
All right?
I tried calling her to see how she was doing.
A nurse answered.
- Did you see the doctors? - Yeah.
They're not optimistic.
That's because they don't know her.
She'll pull through, don't worry.
I've screwed up so much with her.
We've all screwed up, Léo, all right?
This is my fault.
I asked too much of her. I allowed her to be exposed.
You should head home. I'll keep you updated.
No, I'll stay.
- You sure? - Yeah.
[ventilator runs]
[heart monitor beeps]
[door opens]
What are you doing here?
Well, I'm worried too, you know.
How is she?
No idea, the doctors won't say. But she's stable for now.
Well, I did as you asked. Things are starting to come together.
Irène Botsky died on 2nd June 1996. That's the date we're after.
- How did she die? - Car accident.
That's why her visits stopped in March.
And her kid?
He ended up in foster care, children's homes.
Classic orphan story, y'know?
Savarolle got out the following year. He didn't come for his kid?
No, the kid was in a children's home.
And in any event, the relationship was never official.
Where's this children's home?
It's in Cachan. It's called...
"Tranquillity House".
No, really.
[man] There's not much I can tell you.
In 1996-98, I hadn't been transferred here yet.
The only thing I know is, back then,
Tranquillity House didn't have a good rep.
Why?
Well, there were rumours.
Apparently, the place was run by a woman who was totally deranged.
She was obsessed with cleanliness.
She terrorised the boys, saying they'd catch diseases
if they didn't follow her hygiene rules.
What diseases, for example?
What I'm telling you now is what people heard back then.
She said that if they weren't clean,
rats would attack the home and they'd all die from the plague.
[laugh]
She said that to young boys. Can you imagine?
Where is this woman? Can I see her?
We avoid talking about it.
But no, you can't see her. She passed away.
What happened?
When she was finally reported for her wrongdoings,
she killed herself.
She filled her bathtub with corrosive industrial detergent
and she sat in it for several days.
When the medics found her,
there was almost nothing left of the body.
Is there someone who worked here back then who I could meet?
Botsky? Oh, yes, very hard to forget that one!
He was always running away. Every weekend, he'd up and vanish.
And he was only 10 years old!
Where did he go?
Well, he once told me he was going to see his father.
One time, he went missing for a week.
What was the date? Do you remember?
Oh, the date?
[laugh]
I have a hard time remembering my own age.
1998, right?
[exhales]
[mumbling]
I mean, I've got no idea. I don't know.
That week when he left, where did he go?
He never wanted to tell me that, but...
But I think that was when he truly thought he was sick.
- Hmm. The plague? - Exactly.
But how do you know that?
All this was because of that mad lady in charge back then.
She was a real witch.
Yep.
[heart monitor beeps]
[ventilator runs]
Increase the streptomycin dose.
- That's crazy, that's the fourth... - I know.
Either we do this or we lose her tonight.
I'm going to get some rest, I can barely stand.
If anything happens, can you call me?
Yes, Doctor.
[eerie music]
[backwards sounds]
Right, things are taking shape.
Savarolle had a mistress, Irène Botsky, and a son, Éric.
On 2nd June 1996 the mistress dies in a car accident,
the son is sent into foster care, and Savarolle gets out soon after.
But he doesn't claim his kid.
The kid knew the father's address, and he'd go there every weekend.
And just as he gets out, Savarolle does another robbery.
Right, then after that, he hides the cash from the job
in the house he's renovating, then your guys decide to rob him.
That day, the kid is there, Éric Botsky, and he sees everything.
Except now he's 30 and he's punishing the guilty.
Right.
Little Botsky certainly does fit the profile.
The kid was a real genius.
He won lots of scholarships,
became a doctor, and specialised in, guess what?
Bacteriology.
Right, bacteriology.
- After, he disappears in Russia. - We should look for him there.
Yes, except he vanished into thin air in 2013.
No trace of him in either France or Russia.
His name is nowhere to be found. A real ghost.
This means that when he became a champ in bacteriology,
he felt ready to take revenge, then he organised his disappearance.
Yeah, but why use the plague?
Quite the opposite. It was the plague that used him.
Stop breaking our balls with your fancy talk.
- What's that mean? - It's not "fancy talk".
The director of the children's home used to torment him,
telling him he'd catch the plague if he didn't brush his teeth.
All that sort of bollocks. But he never forgot that threat.
So that's why he studied and put together this crazy plan?
- It doesn't fit. - No, not at all.
No, it doesn't stick. There's something missing.
I'm off to see Camille. See you tomorrow, guys.
Ciao.
We need to look into Russia. There's something fishy going on.
[rapid beeping]
[dramatic music]
- What's going on? - We need to take her to the ICU.
And where's Annequin?
Annequin! Annequin!
Hey, calm down! You can't just shout like that!
Where's Annequin?
He's allowed to go home, isn't he?
- Where does he live? - That's none of your business.
Son of a bitch! Where the fuck does he live?
Where does he live?
[intercom rings]
Yes?
How'd you get my address?
I'll open up.
[buzzer]
- What's going on? - Camille's in a coma.
Why do you never answer your phone?
Sorry, I needed some sleep. And I also wanted to see my son.
You have to save her.
I told you already, we can't hope for a miracle.
She can't recover from this unless we find the antidote, but...
- I'll be right with you. - All right.
Problem?
No, an emergency at the Institute. Sorry for disturbing you.
My name is Xin. I'm Gilles' wife.
Pierre Niémans. Nice to meet you.
Shall we?
All right. Goodbye.
Impressive tattoos. Why rats?
It's a punk thing.
When we met, she was in a rebel phase.
She practically comes from Chinese royalty,
but she was living on the street.
I was the one who put her back on the right track.
My car is over there. See you shortly.
- It's me. Got anything? - [Canto] No, nothing.
Botsky worked in a lab in Saint Petersburg until 2011.
Real sophisticated stuff. After that, he vanished.
He didn't leave Russia, but didn't stay either.
Right now, it doesn't make sense.
I need you to do a search for me.
Go on.
Xin Annequin.
Who's that?
Annequin's wife. He's the Pasteur researcher.
For what reason?
Something feels off.
I need you to find everything you can on her, all right?
- OK. - All right, bye.
[phone rings]
- So? - You hit the nail on the head.
She comes from a prestigious Hong Kong family.
And apparently, after a short stint on the fringe,
living as a gutter punk,
she had a few run-ins with the Chinese police,
but Daddy was able to sort things out.
That all?
No, that's not all.
What do you think her maiden name was?
- I don't know, hit me. - Well, it's "Annequin".
What do you mean, "Annequin"?
Hold on, I'll send the file to your phone.
[text alert]
All right, I read it.
She was born "Xin Han-Quin".
That's how it's written, I don't know how it's pronounced.
What does it mean, Xin Han-Quin?
"Han-Quin" would be pronounced as "Anne-Quouine".
Does that mean the husband took his wife's name?
Wait, the Chinese Embassy is sending something.
Oh, yes!
[laugh]
Know what Annequin's original name was?
Botsky!
Are you serious?
Botsky is Savarolle's son.
He left Russia in 2012 and moved to China.
He married that girl and took her surname.
That's legal. His name is "Han-Quin".
He adapted it to French and used his middle name: Gilles.
Gilles Annequin!
Where is he? Where is he now?
I'll call you back.
Wait, Niémans...
The doctor left this for you.
Thanks.
END OF THE LINE, MATE THE PLACE WHERE IT ALL ENDED
[dramatic music]
[splashing]
[dramatic music]
It was time, Niémans.
All those responsible are dead, Éric. You've got your revenge now.
[laughs] Revenge? You don't get it at all.
Those weekends with my father were my only reason for living.
Until they came and destroyed everything.
[vehicle approaches]
[car doors close]
Dad!
What are you doing?
Get over here.
Come on! Hurry up!
- Get down there. - No.
Police! Open up!
[banging on door]
I'm scared! I don't want to go inside!
Dad, please! Dad!
Don't make a sound. Don't move, and be quiet!
- Open up or we'll bust the door! - It'll all be all right.
[thud]
Don't touch that!
Put your hands up!
Kick the gun.
[scraping]
[zip opens]
Don't be silly, guys. We can split the cash, right?
Don't do anything stupid. Don't...
[gunshots]
[thuds]
End of the line, mate.
[door opens]
[door closes]
[mournful music]
[sniffs]
[voice falters]
One week.
Dad, say something!
I was in there a whole week, blocked in by my father's body.
Dad!
Dad! Dad, where are you?
Help me, I'm stuck! Dad!
Dad, say something.
And during that never-ending week...
I had to fight off rats with the plague,
while my father's corpse rotted all over my face.
Listen, it's over now.
One day, a long time afterwards...
I was an intern at Hôtel-Dieu Hospital.
A cop brought in a suspect.
When the guy died, he called his colleague.
"Hey, end of the line, mate!"
That's what he said over the phone.
Then I knew I had found my father's killer.
Who was it?
Who was it? It was you, Niémans!
You, the legendary cop! But you're the worst of them all!
So I did my research.
And then I found the list of your accomplices.
And then I came up with a plan.
To kill them, one after another.
- It took me over 10 years. - I didn't kill your father.
In 1998, I was in New Caledonia, helping the police down there.
I don't believe you.
It wasn't me, Éric.
- I don't believe you... - I didn't kill him! Look at me!
- I don't believe you! - I'm telling you, it wasn't me!
Why would I lie? Why?
Now we need to save Camille. She has nothing to do with this.
Nothing. The antidote, Éric.
But it's too late, the rats are all infected.
Give me the antidote.
She doesn't deserve this. You have no right.
Look, give me the antidote.
- No... - Give me the antidote!
Give me the antidote!
- Please, Éric. - No.
Please.
Give me the antidote.
[whimpers]
[mournful music]
[dramatic music]
Translation: Christopher Smith SDH Adaptation: Geoff Rowlands
Subtitling: DUBBING BROTHERS