The Sitting Duck (La syndicaliste)

You've reached the police.

I clean Ms. Kearney's house,

and when I got there, the lady was tied to a chair.

Is she injured?

There's like a triangle on her stomach

and a knife in...

In what?

Between her legs.

- Where are you going, sir? - I'm Maureen Kearney's husband.

Alto, down!

Is the woman bleeding?

No. The knife... It's the handle that was inserted...

Mr. Hugo?

Your wife is in there, but you'll need to wait, please.

- I'll go get the rest. - Yes, thank you.

- Are you Mr. Hugo? - Yes.

You can go in now.

No internal injuries.

Only the knife? No other penetration?

Sorry.

You can get dressed.

Do you have a pen and paper?

I want to write down everything that happened.

- Of course. - Thank you.

Around 6:30 or 7:00, bathroom,

putting on my makeup.

Suddenly, a hat is shoved down over my head, covering my eyes.

I felt like there was a gun to my back.

He made me sit down on a stool and put tape over my mouth.

And then...

It's easier to fire us than the men.

It's been weeks. The manager won't negotiate.

He's refusing a redundancy plan,

but I'm here to find a solution.

If he fires us, what will we do?

Does he want us to turn tricks to feed our kids?

I'll demand you get retraining, and I promise you won't be abandoned.

Why should we believe you?

When I make promises, they're not empty.

I fight to keep them!

CFDT Union Delegate Head, European Workers' Council

What did your Socialist pals do?

The deal with the Greens?

It won't help us.

12% of voters support them.

- We have to talk... - I can't, she's expecting me.

It's the reason we went to Japan.

I met with the Prime Minister... Yes?

- I'm not late? - We're done here.

He assured me he had high hopes for our efforts to block China.

So, Maureen, how was Hungary?

What's the trouble there?

He's laying off the women. Their output is lower.

Are they less productive?

Less profitable.

Since they never take time off, even when they're sick...

there are accidents, manufacturing defects...

Why not see a doctor?

Without any health coverage, public or private?

Women at our subsidiary can't be fired like that.

They need a redundancy plan, retraining...

OK, fine.

Luc, do a study on that,

and I'll present it at the next board meeting.

Thank you, Ma'am.

The women stick together.

When two women work closely,

they're not doing their jobs, but sticking together?

Pathetic, Dumont.

I'll handle the study personally, Ma'am.

Thank you.

Do you have a minute, Maureen?

Yes, I...

It'll be quick, my kids are coming for lunch.

This is it, Maureen, Sarkozy is sacking me,

and appointing my successor before the election.

Who is it?

Not some "hysteric in a skirt", to quote his private secretary.

Not Oursel, I hope?

Luc has been working his contacts for weeks.

He has no experience. It's not possible!

He's not made to be on top.

Since when do we demand that men be qualified?

It won't be fun working with him.

Are you up to it?

Someone has to keep him in line.

That's reassuring.

You know I'll always be there to help you.

I love your earrings.

A gift from my husband.

All these years, and I can't tell what you're holding.

Are you joking? She's a born bluffer.

Under that sweet exterior.

No table talk! Are you in or out?

- I fold. - Me too.

How's it going at Areva? All good since Fukushima?

Spare us the ecology sermon, Fiona.

She's trying to distract me.

You have to admit we trashed the planet for them.

We're leaving them a mess. You're joining in, too?

Areva employs more than 50,000 people.

My job is to defend them.

As for the game, I'm all in.

I fold.

Show us. I'm sure you've got nothing.

I knew it.

It's just a game... Take your 30 euros.

Your money's radioactive.

You're a pain tonight.

Someday you have to tell me what you hold against me.

I'm working on it.

It keeps vibrating. All of Areva is calling you.

First up this evening, Anne Lauvergeon,

CEO of Areva.

It was announced yesterday:

Anne Lauvergeon will not continue to lead Areva.

There's a political uproar,

with many denouncing the president's decision.

Her replacement is an unknown.

Completely unknown:

Luc Oursel, a man with a low profile.

The president calls him a choice for continuity at Areva.

Let's hear more about him and his appointment...

The Labor Confederation doesn't usually talk nice to management,

but I admire you, Ms. Lauvergeon.

You led us out of an era of stigma, when nuclear power seemed outdated.

We really enjoyed working alongside you,

and we're proud of what we built together.

Thank you, Jean-Pierre.

Thank you.

It was wonderful working with you for so many years.

And the bonds we created together are strong.

Today I'd like to thank

the woman who spared no effort to defend your interests.

A woman who sometimes sees management as an adversary, but never as the enemy.

I'm talking about Maureen, of course.

It was precious having her by my side

as I faced all those men in suits!

I remember when you first burst into my office.

- 1999, right? - Yes.

Newly elected union rep and not intimidated at all,

she was demanding of everyone,

and I knew right away we'd work well together.

And we did. Thank you.

I'll miss our Saturday breakfasts. Those choux pastries!

The choux pastries...

Thank you.

Dear Anne,

what can I say... You can count on us

to look after this wonderful place.

Those who know me also know I'm not about to let my guard down.

The struggle continues!

Long live Areva!

Good-bye, Luc.

I'll be back. This is my home.

That jerk won't be in my chair for long.

Good-bye, Anne.

Thank you for everything.

- See you soon. - Yes, soon.

Ms. Kearney.

Pardon me,

Mr. Oursel is expecting you in 10 minutes.

Very well.

Ms. Kearney.

Have a seat.

I hear you're running for re-election as union rep?

Yes.

That's a wonderful idea!

What will that be, your fifth term?

Sixth.

labor relations are one of my priorities.

And I'll be thrilled to keep working with you, constructively.

My father.

A navy colonel.

Like him, I have a sense of duty,

and I'll do my utmost to right Areva's course.

It's my mission.

I'll be visiting the Latina plant in a few days.

You could come with me.

To Rome?

If it's to discuss the future for Areva's employees,

- why not? With pleasure. - Excellent.

We're going to innovate together.

And we've got work to do!

I'll see you out?

You know our gender equity seminars?

Yes, I'm very committed to them.

Which is why you cut them from the budget?

I have to make cuts

to overcome the bad management...

So you slash the program to bring women into management?

It's a proposal, not set in stone.

We'll discuss it in Rome over a grappa!

I don't drink.

Keep the grappa, and I keep the seminars.

- Good-bye. - Good-bye.

I didn't mention it, but I was re-elected union rep.

Weren't you gonna pack it in? Your new boss is a nightmare.

That's why! He's dangerous.

If I do nothing, it'll be a disaster.