I have to confess.
I'm seeing a psychic too. I had to confess.
When did my life start to go chemically wrong?
Stop hassling me.
It's counterproductive. Let me work on the case.
Hi, girls! How are you?
I'm outta here.
I can't live in this pigsty anymore.
You're cute when you're arrogant.
You're always gone.
Which is why you have a job.
I've seen you twice this week. I'm not your man, I'm your babysitter.
You're much more than a babysitter to me.
Hitting on me now, are you?
I'll sue for sexual harassment.
I'm a lawyer.
And my job is to watch your girls, period.
If I stuck to my job description I'd never have any fun.
I gave you too much freedom.
You want to break free from your chains.
What?
You want to show me you have a personality.
Prove you're a free, independent person.
But I see that, make no mistake.
- I see you're someone. - Your girls are unhappy.
Take that back.
- I take it back. - Good.
I'll give you a 5% raise.
20%? And I go bankrupt?
No problem.
Go on, get lost.
Get lost, we're done.
You're saving me, Sophie. I owe you one.
Girls, Sophie's babysitting Be good.
They're thrilled it's you. They love you.
I prefer you magisterial to obsequious.
Hey Axel, congratulations!
Dude, my bud!
Dude, my bud... that's no good.
We can't take all day.
Keep it simple.
Right, more enthusiastic.
So this is it.
What the heck? You're getting married!
Axel...
you're one of the four pillars of my existence.
Whatever that means.
But I guess
friendship can be... Sorry, I suck.
- Just keep it simple. - Right, more concise?
Punchy, maybe.
What a wonderful day!
Dude, my bud!
We too often define life as a local phenomenon.
The whole miracle of life thing.
The idea that exceptional conditions
got us close enough to the sun to make life on earth possible.
Take the Big Bang, not some separate, isolated point.
The Planck Spacecraft mapped the cosmic microwave background.
We're surrounded by the Big Bang. It's everywhere,
creating the sensation of being in an egg.
Hence the idea that the universe is an egg,
which is itself a life-creating machine.
Vincent and I have a surprise for you.
We put together a little something.
Vincent...
He's drunk.
Maybe we're on some mad scientist's shelf
while he contemplates the concept of life.
And now, we're an evolved civilization wedded to itself.
Everybody!
C'mon, everybody sing!
Don't worry, gentlemen. I can handle her.
Take the question of the species boundary.
Between man and monkey, for example.
The boundary is artificial. Our molecular foundations are the same.
Were we truly fabricated
to become such divergent entities? Or is it down to chance?
For you, Suzanna.
I spend my days with congenital retards.
Guys who think starting sentences with "In this day and age"
will get them acquitted.
You ok?
That woman is stark-raving mad.
We're separating. I'm a mess.
Shit! But...
You're always a mess.
This is different.
Is that all you can you can say?
Mr. Mallet?
It's me.
I know that guy.
What brings you here? Hello.
Hello. I'm a distant cousin of the best man.
Meet my friend. This is a former client, I defended him.
- What were you accused of? - Narcs.
Narcotics.
I wanted to thank you for getting me off. I've quit dealing.
You never looked like a dealer, as I always said.
- Right? - You're sweet.
Listen...
He's kind of a mess right now.
But you look like a million bucks.
Really? It takes a lot of work.
Speaking of work...
I'm actually looking for a job right now.
I was wondering... I've left my past behind.
If you happen to know of an internship or anything,
I'd appreciate it.
I'm not personally looking for an intern.
I have enough trouble paying myself, I can't hire anyone.
- But I'll keep my ears open. - I'd work for you for free.
You would?
That seems odd, but...
- Have you ever studied law? - No.
But I'm highly motivated.
- Great. - It's a start.
- I'm pretty worried about my future. - Me too.
Really? How so?
No, I meant mine.
You'll be fine.
IN BED WITH VICTORIA
She says you stabbed her in the belly with a dessert knife.
She did it herself when I wasn't there.
She's a sicko!
I'd never lift a finger against her.
Did anyone see you two go outside?
I don't know.
Probably.
But when you decide to have sex at 4 a.m.,
you pick an isolated spot.
You don't do it on the dance floor.
- Did Jamal call? - He's no good.
He's a brilliant lawyer.
No, Victoria.
I swear, I'll do anything for you to defend me.
- Right, but... - I'm not kidding. Seriously.
How can I prove she did it herself? She's wacko.
She wants to destroy me, skin me alive, annihilate me.
Boot me out of her life.
You were dead drunk. Maybe you forgot
you took out a knife...
I didn't take out a knife. I have no knife.
I'm not violent, I don't want her dead. I'm innocent.
She's obsessed with knives.
She dreams of knives. She threatens me with them.
Why would she accuse you?
She hates me. She wants me to pay.
You know me, Victoria. I'd never hurt a fly!
This is why I can't be your lawyer.
You're already referencing our friendship.
I can't do it, it's unethical.
Plus I was at the wedding, I could be a witness.
Hire Jamal, he's the best.
He doesn't believe me.
If we only worked for people we believed we'd all be unemployed.
But you believe me.
I don't know, but it's beside the point. You're a friend.
I won't have enough distance. It could work against you.
You've won big cases. I trust you.
I've lost plenty, too.
And when I did win, I was impartial to my defendants.
This is different.
Usually I don't give a shit if my clients are guilty.
Don't you prefer them innocent?
No, actually I prefer them guilty.
If you're innocent, and as a friend, I hope you are,
I'll be freaked out. Scared shitless I'll mess up.
Screw all that, it's hypothetical.
I'm in deep shit. I need help.
It's your job. I'll pay you.
Impossible.
You need to open up to the world.
I'm open to the world. Wide open, gaping.
I'm talking about love and sex.
It's not that I haven't tried.
I'm just not into it these days. I don't feel sexual.
I don't want to hear it.
- And stop doing drugs. - I don't do drugs.
I wouldn't want anything to happen to you.
I'd rather not talk about health.
Let's stick to love and money.
I say what I see. Not necessarily what you come to hear.
Someone is spying on you.
I'm unable to see
who it is, or how.
Someone's watching you.
- What're you doing here? - Pushin' on the playground.
Just kidding. You forgot your clutch.
Girls, c'mon!
Can I talk to you about something?
Come with me. Take this. Thanks.
Follow me.
When my ex and I broke up I moved in with a friend.
But since I'd quit dealing, I couldn't pay the rent.
I was training to be a pastry chef, but my dream is to be a lawyer.
I see.
Drugs, pastry, law... It's a bit vague.
No, it's very simple.
I'd like to start law school
- and work for you... - One sec.
Keep hounding me and I'll drop your cousin.
- What do you want? - I could be your trainee.
Or your personal assistant.
I told you I need a babysitter.
That's included.
I could be your au pair boy.
- You're homeless. - True.
Among other things. But that's not it.
I won't judge your lifestyle.
Leave your undies lying around, I'll pick them up with pleasure.
No, not in that sense.
That's not what I meant.
I could be your man in the shadows.
Solve your problems behind the scenes.
Then, if you like, I could be your assistant.
How about we try it for one week?
Ok?
- If it doesn't work, we quit. - Great.
Ok.
- Yeah? Ok, great. - One week.
Where shall I put myself?
This is your bed.
- There are only two bedrooms. - Ok, this'll be fine.
Great. But I don't want any drugs here.
Of course not. I'm in my clean phase now. No worries.
Ok, perfect.
I'll wash up and get ready.
You're going out?
No, I've got a date with a guy in my room.
I see. I'm not judging you. Shall I make dinner?
That'd be great. There's money in my purse.
What's your code?
3668.
Girls, Sam will be taking care of you.
Beautiful.
So beautiful.
Want to come lie down?
- You ok? - Sure.
Actually, I've got a lot on my mind right now.
Are you joking?
I mean...
do you like to talk during sex?
Can't we talk for a second?
The thing is...
I've got this friend who wants my help.
But if I help him, I'll be in a tricky situation.
I have to reassure him.
I've introduced him to colleagues I respect.
I hope it'll go well.
But...
deep down I feel guilty for not helping him.
It's on my mind.
I'm not sure what to do.
- You know? - Yeah.
I hate to let him down.
It's hard because he's a friend.
We were together years ago. He matters to me.
I can't penetrate your mind.
Of course not.
Ok, I'll shut up. Start over.
If the guy I referred him to does a bad job...
If he loses, I'll feel awful.
I'll torture myself wondering if I could've done better.
Ok, that's enough.
That's it, never mind.
Never mind.
We could still turn this thing around.
In any case, I'm not judging you.
I'm not in the mood anymore.
Everything alright?
If you need to talk, I'm here.
You know, Sam,
underneath my big flaws I've got gigantic qualities.
I'm sure you do.
Our friendship is a liability. We have to make it an asset.
If I agree to defend you, I need to understand
why she'd stab herself and accuse you of murder.
I have to understand.
How's your sex life?
She's making me pay for guys in her past.
- Guys in her past? - I didn't pop her cherry.
We're bonded molecules, but one is comprised of rotten atoms.
Avoid metaphors with the judge.
I'm paying for psychos in her past.
I can't help it if she hates my dick!
I've never tied her down, not that there's anything wrong with that.
Women love me. I don't have to stab mine in the belly.
Just answer the questions please, Mr. Kossarski.
I never resisted anything she did to me.
And neither did she.
She says you violently tore off her panties.
I may have done that years ago, when our sex life was rich and varied.
Playfully, not violently.
But not now.
Even if I wanted to, she wasn't wearing panties.
This is very serious. It's not just a lovers' quarrel.
During intercourse, did you see anyone
or did any potential witness see you?
No human witness, but Jacques, her dog.
He made me uncomfortable.
Ms. Scorr's dog?
You were watching the dog during intercourse?
No, he was watching me. I remember it disturbing me.
- Shall we put them in prison? - Yeah, in prison.
Hello!
- What're you doing here, David? - Just dropped by.
I'm allowed to see my girls.
How are you?
I belong to a writers' blog now.
You're a central element in my story.
You really inspired me.
Stop playing now, girls. Time to eat.
David, say goodbye to the girls.
Don't underestimate my authority.
Don't underestimate my indifference.
I was awful with the judge. It's all so unreal.
I thought Eve'd drop the charges, but accusing me turns her on...
Calm down, I'll get you out of this.
I didn't do anything, I swear. You must believe me.
You can convince her.
It's so unfair and out of proportion.
- I can't talk to her. - I beg you.
- This can't go to trial. - I have no right to do that.
I'm on my knees.
Calm down, get some rest.
How on earth can I rest?
The judge told me not to take the case.
What kind of phone is that?
It's unbreakable.
Designed for soldiers.
Shit, the guy!
Good evening.
I'm "Hot Paris Intellectual."
- No, you can't be. - I am.
Really? I didn't recognize you.
This way.
That's not what I had in mind.
- Sorry. - No, I'm sorry.
I'm not in the mood yet. I'd like to get acquainted.
Then why bring me to your bedroom?
So we can talk in peace. It's crowded out there.
Can I sit on the bed?
Of course.
I don't think we should feel obliged
if we're not attracted to each other.
That goes both ways.
No pressure.
I find you very desirable.
Something to drink?
Do you have whiskey?
I love whiskey with sugar.
- Coming right up. I love that, too. - Really?
No, just trying to connect.
I don't know what's going on. It's so hard.
I can't find the emergency exit.
It's right nearby.
What?
The exit.
We're all looking for it.
In a sense.
I wanted to drown in sex.
And you will.
Maybe you need a vacation.
I'll show you out.
I have good news and bad news.
- Give me the good. - Look.
I created a fake account and friended all the guests.
- They accepted? - Check out my profile pic.
I'm anonymous. You get all the info at the source.
Fabulous.
What's the bad news?
Have you read your ex's blog?
- No, why? - He's writing a lot about you.
I know, he told me. I'm not interested.
Still, take a look.
Your name is Vicky Spock. You defend only psychopaths.
You're unstable.
He evokes several of your cases.
He's giving a reading tomorrow at the Crazy Bloggers' Club.
They meet Wednesday mornings in a café.
They talk about literature in general
and share their work too.
She didn't give a shit about that pathetic drug dealer.
All she cared about was the 3,000 euros cash
he counted out with relish in small bills, humiliating her.
Vicky S. laundered drug money while claiming to be the poor man's lawyer.
She loved sleeping with senior legal officials.
She had an affair with a famous judge
and regularly contacted the media, hoping to get bigger cases.
She was a walking contradiction.
She cultivated a feminist, humanist persona,
but was fascinated with power and money.
In her life, I was a hummingbird caught in a storm.
I was nothing but an invisible pawn,
but I secretly made note of everything.
Thank you so much, David.
It's great. You've got it all.
Her private and professional spheres clashing,
the seedy side of law...
Truly great material.
It'll help us expand the blog's reach and go interactive.
Right, we need to go interactive.
Transmedia narrative is the goal.
That's where it's at now.
Let's hear your ideas.
Start brainstorming.
We'll flood the blogosphere and social media.
Get it on Facebook and Twitter.
How can you write such trash?
You're putting me in danger, and our kids too.
Is it because I didn't give you money?
I've got back the self-confidence you annihilated.
My talent is recognized. This is what I do.
Sorry you never noticed.
I take inspiration from what I know. You knew I wanted to do this.
You're in my life.
It's autofiction. Excuse me for living!
You barely disguised the names.
You're sullying my reputation with no regard for the consequences.
How dare you reveal details about my clients?
Do you realize how serious that is?
Those things are highly confidential.
- It's just a blog, c'mon! - You have 10,000 followers.
Stop seeking to withhold information.
You embody a reality. I experienced that reality.
Now it belongs to me. I want to share it with my readers.
Hi Suzanna. Sorry, I can't talk to you.
30 seconds.
I'm not allowed. You're a witness, I can't.
Do you realize you're defending a monster?
That asshole ruined my wedding.
I'm sorry.
He's in every photo. It makes me sick.
I spent 10 months organizing my big day.
My parents took out a loan. It cost 20,000 euros!
I sympathize, believe me.
It's a big investment. And a lot of work.
But it's got nothing to do with me.
He's a psychopath.
We'll talk about this next year. I'm sorry.
Next year?
It's a serious allegation.
Vincent risks years in prison. He's entitled to a lawyer.
I get it when men are misogynous... But you?
You're way off.
It's misogynous to consider women born victims.
I'm not misogynous. Sorry.
Hello.
How are you, girls?
- Had a good day? - Yeah.
The judge ordered a report
on Eve's dog.
Yeah?
- Ouch! - Careful.
David came by to show me his script.
What?
He wrecks my life and blogs about it. He should see a shrink.
I'm gonna sue.
Did you really sleep with a judge?
No, of course not.
To think I had sex with David. Talk about science fiction.
Not too much iPad for the girls.
No more iPad, girls.
It's bad for you.
Listen to me.
No more iPad. Hand 'em over.
Listen to me, will you?
C'mon, give it to me.
Let go, it's my body!
The dog expert
says your scent upsets him.
That dog is jealous and protective of her.
He can't handle us together.
- Sexually? - On any level.
Have you ever hit him or frightened him?
Never! And how is this scientific?
Just because the dog hates me doesn't mean I stabbed Eve.
What kind of judge lets a dog testify?
Hello.
Right this way.
I admit I stole the expensive purses. But I wasn't violent.
That's a lie, I didn't do anything. The security guard went nuts.
He humiliated me in front of the customers.
He tackled me.
He got me in an armlock. Boom, I punched him.
David's family is comfortably middle class.
He doesn't care about money.
- He can afford to play the purist. - Purist?
Yeah, I mean it's a luxury to act morally superior.
It's naive.
I had to take a crooked path to get where I am.
Why would David reveal all this?
He suffers from a lack of personality. He's spineless.
He's obsessed with the idea that information must circulate.
He loves transparency, doing the right thing.
He thinks he's on the side of truth and justice and I'm corrupt.
- You slept with other judges too? - Yeah, but back then
I was kind of a sex maniac. I slept with everyone.
I liked it, it felt sort of regressive
and auto-erotic.
Do you mind?
No.
Sorry, I'm preoccupied. I've got a few troubles of my own.
Mind if I talk about it?
No, go ahead.
I'm in a bit of a quandary.
I disclosed confidential information to someone I trusted.
Now he's using it against me to make money.
My question is,
should I sue him and risk hurting people I love, or let it go?
Don't let anyone push you around.
So you think I should sue?
Of course, that's your job.
Exactly! I know how to do it.
Are you sure you're ok?
I'm fine. You're the defendant here.
Sorry.
I just wanted an outside opinion.
I'm wild about sex.
I feel everything you feel times a thousand.
How do you know what I feel?
I just do
I feel everything in a heightened way.
Have you always been so sensitive?
Always.
I've learned to live with it.
I love myself more than most people do.
I work on it daily.
I love myself in order to provide maximum pleasure.
I respect my body.
I don't fake it or take shortcuts.
I set aflame any woman lucky enough to be with me.
Sex really isn't my priority right now.
How can people just blithely throw themselves into it?
Sex, sex, sex. Makes me nauseous.
It's like reverting...
to a libidinous, infantile state.
- Know what I mean? - If you keep asking me,
I'll have to send you back to the couch.
Suddenly,
I went into a panic.
My whole crazy week was bearing down on me.
His body seemed really heavy.
So heavy I had to get rid of it.
As if I'd committed a crime
and had to hide the evidence.
I pretended I had something to do and left the room.
He stayed.
And I panicked.
Sam?
What is it?
What's going on? What's wrong?
Calm down, everything's fine. Breathe deeply.
Let me ask you some questions.
Where are you?
Can you hear me?
Has this happened before?
Did he rape you?
Dangerous sexual positions?
I know what this is. Think of happy things.
Cute dwarves, bunnies, the seaside.
- Xanax... - You're fine.
- Shut up. - You want your Xanax?
- Yes. - Where is it?
On the shelf, ok.
Got it.
Here you go. That's right.
Lie down. Put your legs on my shoulders.
Breathe deeply.
That's it, breathe.
Breathe.
- Feeling better? - Yes.
Thank you.
Are you a nurse or what?
No, I've helped guys having bad trips on crack and stuff.
I need a focal point.
Look at the sky.
- I need space... - You've got space.
You're ok.
I need to see in order to project.
Am I disturbing you?
No, it's cool, she's better. Don't worry, dude.
I'll be going now.
I'm not into threesomes.
It's not what you think. I watch the kids.
- I live on the sofa. - Kids?
Well, it's been nice.
- Off I go. - No, stay.
Ok, bye.
Is he stupid or what?
Doesn't matter.
Go on, breathe.
I'm going to bed.
Will you come with me?
Just for a sec.
- Come to my room. - Yeah, ok.
Let's go.
One step at a time.
I regret to inform you you've been called before the Bar Council
for being in contact with a witness...
In twelve years of practice,
Victoria Spick never made one wrong move.
She's here before you today
for having spoken to a young woman who pursued her.
Yes, pursued her, all the way to her domicile
and even harassed her.
Our colleague did not seek out the witness.
She explained that she could not discuss the case.
Should she be punished for simply speaking to this woman?
For saying she could not speak to her? I don't believe so, Your Honor.
A suspension of her license would be
disastrous for her.
She's raising two children
on her own.
The children's father
is an erratic artist who stopped paying child support 7 months ago.
My dear colleagues,
do not inflict a suspension
that will make her precarious situation even worse.
We're ready.
We're suspending you for 6 months.
During which time you're not allowed to practice.
As you well know,
it's strictly forbidden to discuss a case with a witness.
You agreed to defend someone you know well.
You should have been more careful.
What can I say? Tough luck.
I never get friendly with my clients, let alone a witness.
We have to be paranoid. I never even eat with my clients.
The occasional lunch with an out-of-town client.
But never dinner, never drinks!
No one has my mobile number. They call the office.
The secretary screens my calls.
You can't let them get power over you.
If they know you don't give a shit about their case,
they'll respect you. Be in charge. Establish boundaries.
Are you ok?
You look wasted. Is it the side effects?
No, it's the desired effect.
You need to stop taking those pills. Seriously.
I need to come down.
I'm here, I'll help you.
Listen Sam, you've been awesome.
Thanks for everything.
But I won't be able to keep supporting you.
I'd rather you go.
Broaden your horizons.
I can still help you with the case.
No, you can't.
Jamal took over.
It's out of my control.
But you're sweet.
You're so sweet.
I'm not sweet.
Victoria, it's Vincent.
I don't know if you spoke to Jamal.
Eve and I are doing much better.
She'll probably drop the charges
Thanks so much for all you did.
Take care. Thinking of you.
Hey Victoria, Jamal here.
I managed to convince Eve Scorr to maintain the charges.
I told her she could be sued for perjury.
We'll play it safe and aim for a dismissal.
They're back together. Talk about twisted.
Take care. Bye.
You have a shit job, what can I say?
You could've gone into corporate law, labor, public,
real estate...
I know the options.
You could've been a lot happier.
Happiness is relative.
After a perfect 10 years a witness trips you up?
How dumb is that? Dumbest thing you've ever done.
I didn't think it'd end this badly.
I feel ill. Can we discuss this later?
See? You're passive-aggressive.
Your actions speak for themselves.
You think you're cool but you're not.
If you embraced your aggressive side you'd feel better.
You're not a victim of the impact. You control the impact.
I don't feel like a victim.
I'm flexible. I bounce back from the impact.
Sorry if it hurts, but I'd rather be an ally than a friend.
I care about you, Victoria. That's why I'm being honest.
What do you see?
- Nothing much. - What do you mean?
It's always the same. You're going in circles with the drugs.
What drugs? Why do you always see drugs?
There's always drugs.
I don't do drugs. You must be picking up interference.
Maybe you see an ex-dealer or drugs at my flat.
It's not what you think. And I kicked him out.
I see
an interruption in your work life.
Why should I pay you to tell me what I already know?
I want the future, not the past.
I'm usually quite impressed by your visions,
but this...
I'm not a shrink. I say what I see.
I see drugs. I see dizzy spells.
There's nothing positive in those cards?
Nothing at all? Not even a faint glimmer?
It's always the same.
I'm really feeling your needles.
It's not just the needles.
You're in a nonsense phase.
Did you discuss fantasies with your analyst?
No.
What about sex?
How's that going?
I mostly get off on my work.
Pleasure
has nothing to do with getting off.
Don't you agree?
The nuance escapes me. I don't get it.
The pleasure you get from your work
has nothing to do with getting off.
Don't you agree?
- Good! - Probably.
Sweet.
We're starting to fill the void.
What's been going on with your friend Vincent?
They got back together. I don't get it.
Whether he did it or not.
He's so masochistic.
I feel like I bet my life on the wrong horse.
Or that the eggs are all in the same basket
and the basket is out of reach.
I love you.
Six months later...
Hi Victoria, David here.
I've got great news.
I won the Tumblr Talent Award for Vicky Spock.
Big publishing houses are calling It's insane.
Pursue your stupid lawsuit if you must, just know I'm feeling strong.
Hope you and the girls are fine. Lots of love, bye.
Leave a message for Samuel Mallet.
Sam, it's Victoria.
I'm kind of a mess.
I need to see you.
Sorry.
I'm happy to see you.
Me too.
Is something different?
No.
Like what?
I don't know.
You look good, handsome.
Really? Thanks.
What've you been up to?
Cramming like mad, studying law by correspondence.
Are you kidding?
No, it's true.
You told me to broaden my horizons.
How about you?
Me...
Every hour weighs a ton.
Seems you've hit bottom.
Yeah.
And at the bottom of the bottom, there's no bottom.
The girls have missed you.
I miss them too.
Could you move back in for a while,
until I get my head above water?
If I can help with your work.
I need experience.
When does your suspension end?
It ended ten days ago.
I need my work. I can't go on like this.
I need to reconnect with humanity.
You're beautiful.
Victoria, it's Vincent. I need you to call me.
An old ex-girlfriend, Leslie Chevalier, is accusing me of harassment.
She found out about the trial, contacted Eve and turned her against me.
Eve left, it's hell again.
I know you're mad at me but call me, I beg you.
Victoria, it's Jamal.
Please talk to Vincent, he's losing it. He shows up in his bathrobe.
I need to know everything. Why'd you send all those messages?
Leslie called me a psychopath out of the blue.
It was brutal. I sent messages of clarification.
Clarification is a far cry from harassment.
I don't get it. Why didn't you tell me?
If you don't start helping me help you...
Get off your high horse!
This is why I don't want Jamal. I need help, not a lecture.
I've been in hell for 6 months over you.
I'm the victim here! I'm on trial. I could go to prison.
The person accusing me loved me and lived with me 10 days ago!
Calm down.
Victoria's saying you need to help yourself.
If you hurt yourself, others will too.
And Vincent wants you to understand he's...
a loser.
Thank you Sam. That was very clear.
I'm not judging your relationships with women.
I just need to understand.
You harassed me into helping you.
Could you not use that word? I'm in a sexual straitjacket here.
- Why'd you get back with Eve? - It's complicated.
Stupidity, no doubt. Sex, obviously.
I thought we'd be ok. But she wants to be God, and I get that.
Jamal's right, you're both out of your gourds.
Your perverted games make no sense.
- You wear me out. - Don't judge me.
Vincent,
Victoria's trying to set some boundaries.
She's learning to separate her work from her emotions.
Promise me you'll take the case.
Do you realize what that means?
The trial's in 2 weeks.
Looks like you're doing a puzzle.
Leave it to me.
Don't underestimate my commitment.
I'm not, I'm just wondering what you're up to.
Come see. Your repeat offender,
Nicolas Santos, wrecked your office.
Broke everything, it's a mess.
He threw your files everywhere. He grabbed the desk and...
He totally destroyed the chairs. We'll have to get new ones.
He pulled everything down, except this side,
which I managed to save. He was in such a state.
- What'd he want? - Who knows?
He was furious you weren't here.
He was like, "I'll beat that whore to a pulp!
That fuckin' bimbo put my life all over internet."
Right. It's the asshole and his blog.
Yeah, well, I called the cops.
They're sending you a guard for a few days. Just in case.
Is that really necessary? He's not dangerous.
Be brief. Don't brown-nose the judge.
She wouldn't like that. Act young, cool, chill.
You have no wife or kids.
We'll have to play up your work. Ok, you're unemployed.
But you're an academic looking for work.
They should feel you're well-adjusted and responsible.
- A strong work ethic. - I'm freelance, unstable.
Bear in mind I always start with the icky.
The icky?
Some lawyers avoid the muck but I dive straight in. Confront it.
Leslie Chevalier is your muck. We'll start there.
How do I dress?
Clean, not fancy. They mustn't suspect a strategy.
- You ok? - Hardly. I'm scared shitless.
Remember, your beauty is your biggest asset.
- You're kidding me? - No.
For 2 reasons.
1. Why would a hot guy commit murder?
2. Statistically, hot people win more cases.
Same for intelligence. Jurors are indulgent if you're smart.
They identify.
Don't hesitate to use words like
visibly, ostensibly....
Manifestly, indisputably.
Right. Assuredly.
You'll be following me everywhere?
That's right.
Until the end of the assignment.
Don't worry, I know how to keep a distance
while still protecting you.
"You tricked me, I'll destroy you. Make your life hell.
"You'll rot from the inside out. Drop like moldy fruit.
"You're a speck of shit in the universe.
"You have scarred me for life. I'll hate you forever.
"Call me back, I beg you. I love you, I'm in anguish.
"You're heartless.
"I'll make you eat your arrogant shit, you Left Bank whore.
"You sociopathic slut, reality's gonna get you.
"I dreamt I grabbed your head
"and shoved it up against a wall.
"I want to skin you alive, inch by inch,
"slowly, with a Swiss army knife. I smile as I imagine you.
"You're dead. I can mourn you in peace, love you
"and shit on your grave."
Sadly, I don't have time to finish reading this poetry.
Ms. Chevalier, can you put this in context for us?
Yes.
I lived with Vincent for 6 months in 2008.
He was wonderful
until I decided to end our relationship.
He became violent, refusing to accept it.
He stalked me for months. I was terrified.
Ms. Spick?
You say he was violent.
Did he ever physically assault you?
He tried.
I was afraid, but I got away.
- Did he assault you sexually? - No
Why did you wait until now to file a complaint?
I identified with Eve. I don't want it to happen again.
Have you ever been threatened or assaulted by other partners?
Is it true you've filed complaints against 5 other boyfriends
for threats and harassment?
Yes.
And you withdrew 3 of those complaints?
That was different. Vincent is a violent man.
- I stand by my statement. - You stand by your statement.
No further questions.
I have great respect for Ms. Spick.
But I embrace transparency. I believe in morals, truth and justice.
I always try to be as truthful as possible. That's why I have no lawyer.
I want no barrier between myself and my defense.
Thank you, Mr. Gonzales.
- Mr. Mazetti. - Ms. Scorr,
you say the defendant ripped off your panties?
Yes, violently.
He lunged at me as if possessed.
I was terrified. I can't have sex in such circumstances.
- What became of the panties? - I don't know.
Maybe he kept them as a trophy.
There were never any panties. As I've said, she wasn't wearing them.
Order in the court, please.
It's not my fault Victoria broke the confidentiality clause.
As for my blog, it's autofiction. I mix elements from my personal life
with my imagination and fantasies.
The trouble is,
in your fantasies, your heroine has the same name as my client.
She's a lawyer, like my client.
You talk about real cases and clients
she's had in her life. Clients she's defended. And worse,
you mention an affair with a judge.
That represents a clear case of damage to my client.
You say you mix reality and fiction.
However, your readers
are incapable of telling the difference.
So what will they believe?
They'll believe the worst, obviously.
In this case, that my client sleeps around with judges.
You're sullying her reputation,
her work,
her credibility... and smearing the entire profession
with your libelous words. It's utterly intolerable.
Judge, if I may, I object to what the lawyer just said.
I have more faith in my readers than you do.
Since we're talking literature,
I'd like to paraphrase Flaubert. He said "I am Madame Bovary."
And I say, "I am Vicky Spock."
Sorry, but you're Mr. Gonzales,
and you have no imagination.
That's your opinion.
How ironic.
They say "the lawyer is a tramp" when I'm having zero sex.
Why did that client wreck your office?
He thinks I slept with the judge who sentenced him.
But it was another one.
He thinks I double-crossed him.
Would you have slept with the judge to help your client?
No. I was a mess, but not that much of a mess.
But you were well enough to sleep with a judge for pleasure?
Yeah, sure.
I had sex for pleasure, not gain.
In a certain sense, you should be flattered.
Flattered?
He's writing about you.
Behind the caricature lies interest, admiration.
People write about what interests them. He must think of you constantly.
It's a declaration of love.
Are you kidding me?
You'd have to be fascinated by someone to write all that.
To steal or pillage from them.
Usually people just send pathetic text messages.
He's trying to make your failure sublime.
Right, right. I love your faith in humanity.
Eve, will you pet the dog?
Ms. Scorr, I'm from BFMTV.
What's it like seeing Mr. Kossarski again?
Ms. Scorr, please...
When the animal sees the person who hurt his mistress,
he recoils and grows fearful.
It's a form of body language, a series of easily interpreted signs.
The position of the eyes,
ears and the rest of the body.
The tail is very important.
Our study clearly shows a stressed, fearful dog
will most often wag its tail to the left.
Whereas a confident, happy dog will wag its tail to the right.
What did you learn when you tested the victim's dog?
Please roll the video.
In the first test we show the dog, Jacques,
a neutral shirt. He wags his tail to the right.
However, in the second test,
upon seeing a shirt belonging to the defendant,
he reacts differently.
He appears distressed and wags his tail to the left.
Objection. The study is statistical at best.
It's a guessing game.
Mr. Mazetti?
- No comment. - Ms. Spick?
Mr. Verban, how long have you been
a veterinarian and expert witness?
- Eleven years. - I see.
Over your long career, have you encountered possessive dogs?
Can you confirm that some domestic animals express displeasure
when their mistress is close to someone else?
Yes, I have observed that.
So is it conceivable that the dog might react negatively to the defendant,
not because
he attacked the victim, but simply because
he had a relationship with her?
- It's not that simple... - Yes or no.
Yes.
Right. No further questions.
Bring in the dog, please.
This testimony is unusual.
Please refrain from laughing or making abrupt gestures.
Mr. Verban, please interpret what the dog is expressing.
Ms. Scorr,
please approach the dog
and stand before him.
Good. Mr. Kossarski,
would you please approach now.
Make contact with Ms. Scorr by touching her arm, for example.
Ms. Spick, anything to add?
- May I approach the dog, Judge? - Yes.
Order!
Mr. Verban?
Well, the animal seems
to be quite upset.
"She was born in the 70s
"into a Buddhist sect that made her an atheist and a cynic by age 13.
"It's a complete mystery how such a community,
"which advocated spiritual enlightenment,
"could have spawned such a tortured, hysterical
"and capitalistic mind.
"This was particularly apparent in her relationships with men.
"Her sexuality was astonishingly cerebral.
"The mere thought of a good closing argument
"or a lawyer's flowing gown would make her come instantly.
"I felt useless and ridiculous.
"She was a powerful monster, devoid of emotion, unable to share.
"Her existence revolved solely around her desire for control.
"This phallic woman
"made me invisible, but I recorded everything."
Mr. Gonzales...
Are you trying to convince us this is a work of pure fiction?
If I say it's the truth, you'll accuse me of libel.
Thus, I'm telling you it's fiction.
Ok, it's fiction.
You do realize you depict your heroine in a deeply unfavorable way?
Yes, but I have artistic licence.
Who on earth would believe
you didn't consciously add objective details
so everyone could see, behind your fiction, a libelous portrait
of Ms. Spick?
Am I virile in bed?
No. It's not like we've done it much.
Am I a cold, calculating monster?
- Everyone is, a little. - No, you're not.
You have no ego, no malice. You're a good person.
No, I'm not.
You're wrong, I'm not a good person.
I have nothing. Maybe that makes me seem nice.
Or inoffensive, people like that.
I don't like you for those reasons. That's not how I feel.
I don't like you because I feel superior to you.
I don't know.
If you like me, even for the wrong reasons, that's good.
I like you for...
your humanist qualities.
You're a no-danger zone for me.
That's my priority now.
I don't know how I should take that.
Take it well.
It's a Dog's Trial
A Barking Witness
Animal Evidence!
Canine Justice: Gone to the Dogs
Bring in Daisy and her trainer.
This trial is a farce.
Mr. Mazetti, please be quiet.
Are you connected to any of the parties in any way?
I'm a friend of the bride.
- Do you have a statement? - No.
Ms. Spick?
Mr. Kleinberg,
you rent your chimp out for various events, correct?
Correct.
- What did you do at the wedding? - The bride requested a show.
So Daisy and I came and did one.
What did you do afterward?
We stayed until about 3 a.m.
What did you do with Daisy?
She stayed with me. She was in a good mood.
We danced, and she took pictures.
- She took pictures? - Yes.
- Can you show us? - Of course.
Pictures?
Grip it with your fingers,
like I showed you.
That's right.
Order in the court.
Like this.
Go on.
Photo.
What did you do with the photos?
I downloaded...
Order!
- I downloaded them on my computer. - Thank you.
Go on, Ms. Spick.
Look at these photos Daisy took at the reception.
People dancing, their desserts mostly eaten.
Dessert was served one hour prior to the events.
Here, identifiable by her dress, is Eve Scorr from the back.
If we zoom in,
we see details we may otherwise have missed.
Ms. Scorr is clearly not wearing panties.
She claims they were torn off.
Three possibilities.
My client tore them off an hour before trying to make love with her.
Ms. Scorr put on a pair of panties between 1 and 2 a.m.
for some inexplicable reason,
which she never mentioned in her testimony.
Or, quite simply, she's lying.
Ms. Spick!
Can we get some photos?
Pose with the chimp.
- Shit, what happened to the computer? - I destroyed it.
Are you ok?
- No, actually, I... - One sec.
I'll get the door, then I'm all yours.
- What're you doing here? - I've been working on my character.
Character? What do you mean?
I feel useless. I just sit there like a lump.
I'm the one doing the work now.
Don't change your attitude with the jury.
- What're you doing here? - Got a bodyguard now?
- What's up, Vera? - Sorry.
We ran into him. The girls were thrilled.
Never mind. I'm ok, Etienne.
What's going on?
An inner panic attack.
Everything will be fine.
It's been proven statistically.
If you survive a crash, you won't have another one.
- Mommy... - One sec, girls.
Everything'll be fine. Take it easy, leave it to me.
I'll show him out, then we'll talk.
Don't worry.
Victoria, my life is totally...
- I'll pick up my stuff tomorrow. - What?
I've become invisible here. I no longer exist...
You're taking notes?
Chill, I'm writing a text.
This is unacceptable.
Etienne, would you kindly remove this man?
Follow me, sir.
You're showing your true colors!
I don't count in your life.
Stop underestimating yourself. You count a lot.
I don't underestimate myself. That's why I'm leaving.
I know all about you. You know nothing about me.
Haven't you ever wondered why I was here?
Sure, of course.
No you haven't.
I did it all to escape my shitty life.
It surprised me.
the situation would change.
But no.
You didn't realize I made you come.
You're underestimating yourself again.
I stole your money.
What?
A little, in the beginning.
I was touched when you trusted me with your credit card.
If I didn't tell you now, you'd never know.
And you'll never know I exist unless I leave.
Don't go on the eve of my closing statement.
My mind's made up.
- Please stay. - No.
Come on.
Are you ok, madam?
Do you need help?
Yes, Etienne. Could you come in? I don't feel well.
Could you stay here tonight? I don't feel safe.
Yes? Thanks.
I'll make the sofa bed for you, ok?
Bedtime, girls.
- Can I use your shower? - Sure, right in there.
- Where is she? - In the bedroom.
What have you done?
Let's get her to the bathroom.
How many pills did you take?
Dunno, a few...
Just to sleep, not...
Right. You're young.
You've got your whole life to live.
You mustn't let yourself go.
Drink lots of water and get some rest. Your body needs time to recover.
Thanks, Doctor. How much?
47 euros, please.
My assignment's over. But if you like, I could stay a bit longer.
No, we're good. Thanks for everything, Etienne.
You really helped out. Thanks so much. Goodbye.
Hurry, we're late.
- I can't go. - Get up.
- I'll call a replacement... - You'll plead on all fours if necessary.
- Have some sugar. - I'm wrecked.
I can't plead sitting down.
You're a force of nature.
I am not. Look at my eyes.
They're gorgeous.
A little makeup and no one will know.
I'll be disbarred.
Get dressed, we're late.
- Don't yell at me. - Stop it!
- You're defending your friend. - I'm gonna puke.
We'll puke together.
Got anything? Amphetamines or something...
Are you nuts?
So I can do my job.
I'll call a replacement...
You're gonna knock 'em dead.
Breathe in.
Bit more.
All good?
You're scaring me, Victoria.
Deep down inside, I believe.
Why is he here?
Because...
I'm the guy saving the girl who's trying to save you.
So I'm the guy saving you.
Asshole.
- How's it going, Victoria? - Good, just give me half an hour.
Ms. Spick, you have the floor.
Can a dog serve as a witness?
A relevant question in the trial of a man accused of attempted murder.
I urge you to be extremely wary of hypothetical experiments.
I call your attention to the fact that canine intelligence
is 51% genetic.
According to rankings based on breeds,
the Dalmatian comes in at the bottom.
Behind the Poodle,
the Doberman,
the German Shepherd and some thirty other breeds.
In other words,
if, and only if, we were to place our trust in the word of a dog,
the Dalmatian would be among the least trustworthy.
How can someone?
How can someone
accuse someone else of attempted murder...
How can someone?
And then move back in with him.
"Him" is my client.
Her alleged aggressor.
While still pursuing the case.
Utterly irrational under the circumstances.
And then she left him again.
You may accuse my client of idleness.
Cowardice.
Weakness.
He's no model of virtue.
But that doesn't make him a criminal.
Ms. Spick, this is a victory.
Animals were a big part of this case.
What can you tell us about the judge?
This is a victory for Mr. Kossarski. The truth came out. That's what counts.
Mr. Kossarski?
Listen, the truth may be sad,
- but when molecules bond... - C'mon.
- Mr. Kossarski! - Over here!
You were amazing.
What you did was incredible.
I'm alive again.
You should thank Sam.
Seriously, he did so much.
- Did you see him after the verdict? - Who?
- Sam. - No.
It's as though before,
I didn't know I was happy and now I do.
I'm so fucking relieved.
So am I.
I can't believe it's over.
You look exhausted, you need some rest.
Know what would be restful?
Not seeing you for a while.
Yeah...
I shouldn't have gotten you involved.
I bet you'll get back together.
Honestly, I don't think I could take it.
She wasn't there when the judge relaxed the charges,
ordering me to pay a mere 90 euros in damages.
The trial provided unexpected publicity...
As the trial gave me so much publicity,
I was ordered to change the names of all my protagonists.
In exchange, I won the inalienable right
to continue my blog and the film project with unexpected publicity.
I was proud when the Court restored my freedom as an author.
Leave a message for Samuel Mallet.
Sam, I've been calling you.
I didn't know where you were. We won the trial.
Thank you. You made it happen.
And I wanted to tell you...
you mean a lot to me, you really do.
I understand why you stole from me, it was your way of expressing interest.
I want to prove I'm eternally grateful.
It's a bit late.
Don't you think we work chemically?
Chemically?
Don't we have good chemistry?
Don't we?
What are you driving at?
I want to live with you.
What, for free? I'll lose out.
No, no, I can pay you...
- I'm joking, I'm not a whore. - Of course not.
Of course not, but it makes sense.
All relationships...
require exchange.
I mean, no relationship is balanced.
The very notion of balance
negates the possibility of connection.
But I'm afraid of you.
You're the queen of drama queens.
Sam, I...
I just...
realized...
I just realized these past months,
I never had time to realize
I'm in love with you.
I understand now.
When you left,
I realized
I was happy with you.
Happy without knowing it.
I was so focused on the trial.
But now I know.
I could
give you private law lessons.
Introduce you to all the lawyers in Paris.
Why'd it take you so long to see me?
I don't know.
It's so rare for me to slow down.
English subtitles by Sionann O'Neill, a.s.i.f.