A Touch of Treason (Les Ennemis)

THE ENEMIES

BASED ON FRED NORO'S NOVEL "A CERTAIN CODE"

ONE SCENE IN THIS MOVIE WAS FILMED AT PARIS' AIRPORT

I don't know what you sell

but with this, you'll sell more.

Besides, it's pointless discussing it. Maurice?

The young 'un will take you for a spin.

What's up?

Take this gentleman out to try the Buck.

-Go to the woods. -I've no time. I'm in a rush.

Not as much as us.

-Get to it! -Hey!

Apart from The Rite of Spring

and extracts from Swan Lake, that's all we have.

For the second part, yes.

Swan Lake is on at the opera right now. Doesn't that bother you?

I've seen it, but he danced... How can I put it in French,

and in a charming way at that?

No, thanks.

With the clerical staff and technicians,

there shouldn't be more than 50 people.

I'd say less than that.

Perfect.

Thank you.

I will give you a call.

Set an exact date as soon as you can.

Give my wishes

-to our friend Julien. -I will do.

Have you seen Irkutsk?

Yes.

It's bad, isn't it?

I'm on Soviet territory here.

I promise nothing will happen to you.

In 1928,

Vakhtangov Theater was avant-garde.

However, since then...

Thanks, that's what I wanted to hear.

I've gone all out

so the play won't be shown in Paris.

That's not the end of the world.

It saddens me.

Yes?

The ambassador is on the line.

I was going to call you, Your Excellency.

This job is taking longer than I expected.

I'd prefer to send it over to you tomorrow afternoon.

At the earliest, yes.

You can count on me, Your Excellency.

-Bye, ma'am. -Bye.

It's like she waits until closing time to turn up.

Yes, but she's crossed the Atlantic

to buy three blouses off us.

That's worthy of some indulgence.

-Bye. -Bye.

-Bye, Jacques. -Bye, sweetheart. See you tomorrow.

Good evening, Jacques.

Don't I get a kiss?

Sorry.

I was looking at you as I came in.

You look like a castaway.

That's kind of the case, isn't it?

Nikita!

How wonderful! Hello, my lovely. I'll be with you right away.

-Hello, my darling. -Is it true that he's called Nikita?

It's about as true as me being called Charles!

Bernard, ever see that guy who was after the Chevrolet again?

-No. -His loss.

It was a steal.

You can't imagine what's it's like to feel different.

Everything becomes kind of mysterious.

These people here, for example.

I wonder what they're talking about or thinking about.

They're talking about nothing. As for what they're thinking...

I've 50 bags to give you tomorrow.

That's not too bad.

Shame I don't have any, I'd have loved to have refused!

Let it drop.

I was avoiding my dad's.

Oh because he has a dad!

Don't you know that Arabic proverb?

My dad was a dust trader.

He went bankrupt due to a gust of wind!

I'm free to go where I want.

But do they always know where you're going?

If they're interested in knowing, then yes. Why?

Don't you think we're reckless?

How are they with you?

They're dull.

Like any important people in all offices around the world.

When are you going to stop talking to me about them?

-Are you worried? -No.

So, Nikita,

capitalist alcohol and a pretty capitalist lady!

Keep on liking all of these things and you'll end up in Siberia!

Bye.

Is all of that yours?

Call me as soon as you've got the pictures.

Don't worry, my darling. Bye now.

There she is!

One, two. One, two. One, two.

She's perfect.

-Morons. -How are you, Claudie?

Worn out. I spent all day in the sun wearing Astrakhan.

That's the heaviest fur.

Luckily the photos pay

because otherwise...

Is what I'm saying thrilling you that much?

What's up? Why the long face?

I've no reason to give you.

Hush now, you're too kind! You're moving me to tears!

If you like I could mediate this argument...

We know top Soviet mediation is way too pricey!

What would the lady like?

What are you drinking?

Why don't we go to dinner instead? I've not eaten since this morning!

No veto allowed!

TRADE REPRESENTATION OF THE USSR IN FRANCE

Hello, Youri!

Hello.

Hello, Nicolaï.

Hello, Smolof.

Hello...

You are late, Smolof.

This isn't the first time either.

However...this is not regarding disciplinary action.

You perhaps think it is permitted, is that right?

I was going to tell you.

However, I've come in for another reason.

Impeccable technique... No mistakes nor traces left behind.

It's the work of a professional.

Who discovered it?

The cleaning lady. She called the police

so they came in.

Only three of us,

the ambassador, you and I know the gravity of this theft.

You need to help me, Smolof.

I'll give it to you for 40,000

as I'd be happy it's gone to a good home.

How about 30,000?

Mom, think about this.

I can think about things after I've done them.

You're over-thinking it, Mrs. de Lursac.

I'm sorry.

I won't struggle

to sell a piece like this.

-Come on, let's go. -Good afternoon.

Why do you persist in haggling?

It's an age-old pleasure of mine.

If he had agreed, then what would you have done?

He couldn't have agreed to my price.

I've known my stuff in this field for a long time.

Mrs. de Lursac, don't turn down taking a look at this unique object.

From the Universal Exposition?

It's Sumerian, ma'am. From the dawn of civilization.

Here, old boy.

Our wonderful trade is dying thanks to the uncultured.

My respects, ma'am.

-Are you not in the army now? -Shh! More so than ever.

Yet the enemy is all around so look out.

-There's an emergency, Captain. -Will you eat with us?

It's urgent. Gramps is waiting for you in the car.

Come back to me when you're talking more seriously. Sorry, Mom.

-But my lunch? -I'll call you.

-Ma'am. -Come on, let's go.

-How much for this horrific piece? -10,000, ma'am.

-5,000. -OK, seeing as you're so lovely!

Oh but I...

Jean! Jean!

Hello, Commander.

Sorry, I was trying to save my mom some money.

It's exhausting. Has something been robbed?

"Broken into" would be the correct term.

Put your foot down, Curruci.

A safe at the Soviet embassy.

Not Grenelle Street, a trade branch in the 16th arrondissement.

In the cultural attaché's office.

Oh, Smolof?

What did he have stolen? A photo of Ulanova?

Wait no, I know! The script for the next Popov.

I know he worked on that.

-You're tiresome, Curruci. -Yes, Commander.

How did we find out?

Luckily for us

the cleaning lady thought it was right to call the police.

-The Russians haven't come forward? -No, of course not.

So it might be serious then.

I'm breathing in the powder's intoxicating odor.

Not "it might be," it definitely is,

especially as we have clarifications

on the precise activities of Andreï Smolof, the burgled guy.

"Smolof, Andreï, 45 years old, born in Kiev.

"A cultural advisor at the Soviet embassy in Paris.

"Previous posts: Prague, Zagreb, Peking.

"An irreproachable civil servant, spoken highly of by his superiors."

Paris was his first post in a non-communist country?

To our knowledge, yes.

It gets even more interesting.

Smolof is the ambassador's right-hand man.

However, his first job was in decoding

which leads us to believe his roles go beyond the realm of culture...