Smoke & Mirrors (El hombre de las mil caras)

THIS FILM IS A FICTION INSPIRED BY REAL CHARACTERS AND EVENTS

The story I'm about to tell you

took place at a time when the sky belonged to a select few.

There were no low cost airlines. It wasn't like today.

A plane was a plane, not a bus.

It's a true story.

Like all true stories, it contains a few lies.

It's the story of a liar.

The story of a man who fooled an entire country.

SMOKE AND MIRRORS

My name is Jesus Camoes.

I was a pilot at the time I'm telling you about.

I had money and prestige.

I had no need to get involved in such matters.

But it was fun.

The sky belonged to a select few.

So did the world.

It's weird to see you dressed like that.

I'm meeting my wife for lunch I want to impress her.

I'm turning 53, it's time to change.

This is Francisco Paesa.

In 1995 we were involved in handing over

the most wanted fugitive in the history of Spanish democracy.

Have you looked at what's inside?

This.

It's a locker in the North Station in Paris.

What will you do with that much money?

What will we do.

We'll see. He won't be out for a while.

We have plenty of time to think about it.

I'll be back in a month. Judge Ferrer will call you to testify.

Don't worry, everything's in order.

What if she asks me about you?

Tell her the truth.

That I'm your friend.

An advance.

I have to go.

That was the last time I saw him.

A few months later I got a call saying Paco was dead.

But let's get back to the beginning of the story.

Thank you.

I need two SAM 7 missiles.

For who?

For ETA.

During the most violent years of the ETA terrorist group

Paco was sent to buy two missiles with homing beacons

to lead police to the heart of the armed group.

ETA's a hornet's nest, Paco. You should stay out of there.

The pay is good.

I could pay you better.

You can't work only for the Spanish Secret Service.

Having only one client will get you in trouble.

It's my country.

Money is your country. Don't fool yourself.

And that of many others.

300,000 francs, up front.

Give me a couple days, I'll see what I can do.

A police operation in Hendaye

in the Atlantic Pyrenees...

It was the biggest raid ever on the terrorist group ETA.

Part of their arsenal was found.

And, more importantly,

their system of blackmailing Basque businessmen was uncovered.

From that moment on,

Paco became one of ETA's biggest targets.

Rafael!

Rafael Vera, Head of State Security.

- What's up, Paco? - How are you?

Better known as The Gypsy.

- They haven't paid you yet? - Not yet.

That's odd. I'll call them right now and take care of it.

They had promised him 100 million pesetas for the operation.

Two years later, he still hadn't been paid.

Hi, Paco. It's me.

Your money has been sorted out.

He was never paid.

I've got something else for you.

He was sent to blackmail a GAL witness.

the Spanish government's anti-terrorist death squad.

An easy job.

He only had to convince her not to testify against her boyfriend

and compromise the Spanish government.

It was the only time Paco wasn't suspicious.

As soon as Paco 's face was made public,

nobody wanted anything to do with him.

After that, he had to flee Spain for 5 years.

When he came back, nothing was ever the same.

Gentlemen, I want you to taste this wine.

There are only 50 bottles in the world like it.

Wonderful.

- Spectacular. - I'm glad you like it.

I had a bottle sent to each of you at your office.

That leaves only 46.

We brought the contracts.

As agreed, I included a clause specifying each party's contribution.

We can set up the company in Sao Tome.

Off shore, of course.

Being an ambassador has its perks.

- It's a lot of money. - Fifty-fifty.

Still, it's a lot of money.

Nobody said getting rich was cheap.

We brought something too.

A file.

- What file? - Not what file, whose file.

A good file investigating someone

is always a bad file.

And that file proved

that everything Paco had was fake.

His million-dollar estate,

an office in one of Madrid's nicest areas pending seizure,

and a house in Las Rozas belonging to Gloria Villalba...

This is the only thing that's his in this house.

...his wife of 15 years.

Is it real?

As far as his fortune...

Two accounts in the red

and a bank loan never granted

that Paco punctually applied for every 3 months.

We also know that you worked for the Spanish Secret Service.

But that didn't go very well.

They tricked him. Paco was set up.

The pilot.

He's your assistant, partner,

- friend? - Jesus Camoes.

You've known him for 20 years, he's married and has 2 kids.

Quite a family man.

I admit it. There was a time in my life

when I was excessively sociable.

You're not in jail because this gives you diplomatic immunity.

A gift from your friend, George Starckmann,

the weapons dealer.

Forget the business world. With a life like yours,

you should write a book.

Don't worry, we won't call the police.

Get out.

Don't drink that, you'll get sick.

Pour me some.

The only thing the file missed

was an old Jaguar in his name.

Besides that car, Paco had lost everything.

Hi.

I put your things in the bedroom downstairs.

You can use it until you find something else.

That was Paco 's life until Luis Roldan showed up.

THE SIDEKICK

Luis Roldan, the Spanish Police Commissioner.

In charge of more than 70 thousand men.

One of the most respected members of the government.

Relentless in the fight against ETA.

Hand-picked to be the next Minister of the Interior.

I'm sorry.

I had an important call to make.

Your ash.

Julian says you get along well with money.

Like any other relationship. We have our moments.

How are things right now?

It depends what for.

Imagine you have to save an account that's in danger.

Where is this account?

Switzerland.

- Where did the money come from? - You're in the money business

and you have moral prejudice?

Please, get to the point.

I asked the wrong question. How much money?

Quite a bit.

And there are two houses we want to keep.

One in Paris and the other in the French West Indies.

Can you handle that as well?

Perhaps.

That's not good enough. Can you or not? Put out your cigarette.

I can do it for one million dollars.

That's a lot of money.

We're good.

There's something else.

A serious inconvenience.

Information will come to light that's harmful to me.

What does it say?

Something you wouldn't like said about you.

Is it true?

This is Spain. Would that change anything?

- When is it coming out? - Soon.

We need to be ready.

And please, be precise. We don't have much time.

You should leave the country at once.

A little distance is always a good thing.

Sergeant, bring that rabble to order.

Yes, sir. First division, step forward.

You're disobeying a direct order.

Yes?

Yes, Minister, sir. No, no, I was reading.

Of course I know about the committee. Don't worry, Antoni.

You can call me to testify anytime. I won't leave Madrid.

I promise.

That lie would force the Minister of the Interior, Antonio Asuncion, to resign.

- Where are we? - We just passed Perpignan.

- Want me to drive a bit? - No, I'm okay.

Go back to sleep.

I have an apartment in Paris.

You can stay as long as you need while we sell the houses

and see what we do with that money.