Law of the North (La Loi du nord)

THE LAW OF THE NORTH

Again!

- Pop! - Again!

I want to do it.

Pop!

Oh, Jimmy! Come on, be sensible.

You're a bad boy.

Come on, we have to sleep now.

Come on... off to sleep.

- Did he take his medication? - Yes, Ma'am.

Hello.

You're so beautiful, Mummy.

Oh, Peggy, you're messing my hair!

Good night.

- Have they said their prayers? - Yes, Ma'am.

I haven't forgotten a single word.

Me neither!

If you're good kids, I'll buy you one for Christmas.

Jimmy!

Jimmy!

Mummy!

Your glove.

Thank you, Jimmy.

Off to bed, or you'll catch a cold.

- Off sleep, you little imp. - Or Ellis won't play with you anymore.

Yes.

I'm asleep already.

He's mine for sure.

I recognize myself.

Good evening, Madam.

Miss Bert? So late?

Mr Shaw doesn't spare you.

You've eaten, I hope?

No, not yet, but...

Not had dinner?

Your devotion to my husband is boundless.

Good night, Miss Bert.

- I hope she didn't hear you. - What did I say?

About Jimmy.

Oh, what are you talking about?

She's spying on us, I could feel it.

Parker, another tie.

Hello, yes, sir?

The Secretary-General of the Steel Committee?

The President has just left, Sir.

I won't fail to do so, Mr Secretary-General.

What time should I wake Sir up?

Wake me up?

What time does Sir want...

What time is my first appointment?

9.30 a.m. Board of Directors of the Pittsburgh Ironworks.

Okay then, 8 o'clock

Thank you, Parker, I don't need you anymore.

Thank you.

Show Miss Bert into my office.

Sir will be right with you.

Good evening. I called you late.

- I'm at your disposal. - I know.

Have a seat.

Miss Bert...

since we've been working...

Well, since you've been working with me...

I've appreciated your intelligence...

a certain quality of dedication...

and a rare degree of intuition.

So, tonight I'm going to ask you a favour...

that goes beyond your duties as a secretary.

I'm going to ask you...

...to fulfil a mission.

- You can refuse if you judge it... - It's not my place to judge.

Thank you.

I have some envelopes prepared here.

This one you'll take immediately to Mrs Shaw, my mother.

- To be handed to her personally. - Very well, Sir.

And the other one, I want you to keep.

- Keep it? - Yes, you yourself.

And if in a year...

...I haven't been able to claim it, open it.

As for this one, it must stay here.

Damn lock!

Excuse me, Sir.

Thank you.

Tell me...

I've never done anything for you. If you should have a wish...

I only wish to be able to continue working with you.

That goes without saying.

That's all I wish for, Sir.

I came from my French town, you took me on as your secretary.

I choose the best.

You've handled men, events...

I've glimpsed what power was.

Power...!

And...

You were disappointed?

No, I was surprised.

And filled with admiration.

Really?

Oh, my hat.

- I had my hat... - It's here.

Thank you.

But you still haven't asked me for anything.

I'm going to ask you...

- Oh, maybe it's a bit... - Tell me, tell me!

I'll ask you to promise me...

Mr Shaw...

Do not undertake anything this evening that you haven't thoroughly considered.

I promise you.

Whatever you say, I find her amazing.

Who is this Mr Ellis Lowton?

A very smart guy. 5 polo ponies, 2 Rolls Royces.

Finds $50,000 every year for an avant-garde ballet.

Only goes after the richest women.

- He has a high income? - Obviously!

An absolutely divine couple. Aren't they, Madam President?

Oh, enchanting.

He doesn't dance all that well.

Like with Pat, before my sciatica...

Oh, that Mr Lowton is really handsome.

Like an Apollo.

But without any expression, Madam President.

What attracts me in a man, is his expression.

So, with Pat... when I was in Florida...

- Mr President? - Mrs Shaw's table.

3 tables after Mr Patterson's.

- Fine. - Thank you.

Excuse me, Sir... Didn't you make a mistake?

No, that's fine.

- What's wrong, Bob? - Nothing, Patterson.

- Come to our table. - Not just now.

- Please... - No!

I might need you in a few minutes.

What's wrong with him? It's like he doesn't recognize me.

Ruined my dress!

- Bastard! - Kill him!

Get back!

Yes, Robert Shaw, 'the King of Steel'. Hurry, before they lynch him!

Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!

Your friendship with Mr Lowton has given rise to some slander.

Our relationship was completely moral.

He supported me in the neglect my husband left me in.

Who saw Mr Shaw last, before the murder?

His secretary, Miss Bert.

We left at 9pm and 30 minutes later...

- Give us a report... - Preposterous!

He has no right to ask that.

Valid objection.

The jury will decide. I have nothing to add.

Your husband rarely saw Mr Lowton.

My husband was busy man.

Did he have any reason to be hostile towards Mr Lowton?

- None that I know of. - I protest!

She should be questioned on facts, not feelings.

Valid objection.

Very well. You gave Mr Lowton money.

No.

You gave him $20,000 on February 21st.

But not to him personally.

He represented L'Arte Moderne which staged ballets.

Did you know that his expenses exceeded his known resources?

Mr Lowton was a gentleman. He didn't talk about money.

- Bravo! - Silence!

I protest these insinuations.

Under the guise of defence, they are trying to drag

the private life of an American woman of the highest standing through the mud.

This session is suspended.

Sir, please!

You know it's forbidden to take photos in court.

Shaw is not a self-made man.

He's the son and grandson of billionaires, and these people...

He didn't found a hospital.

- He founded an observatory. - Exactly. What's the point?

- Well... - Ha ha!

Having a French woman as a secretary, that...

Do you see any other way at this point?

No. But can we do this without consulting Shaw?

- We can try to save his life. - Fine.

Silence please!

Do you believe, Miss, that Mr Shaw loved his wife?

He only thought about making her life better.

I'm convinced that Mr Shaw loved his wife deeply.

That's all.

Miss Bert...

Were you nothing more to Mr Shaw than his private secretary?

I don't understand.

I protest!

Objection overruled.

The question stands.

What do you mean? Are you trying to insult me?

Just answer the question.

I was nothing more to Mr Shaw than his private secretary.

You heard Mr Lowton utter these exact words...

"I recognize myself in this man?"

Yes.

Did Mr Lowton say that sentence out loud?

No, he was speaking quietly.

From the door here...

...near which Mr Lowton would have spoken...

...to this corner where Miss Bert was sitting...

...there is a distance of 56 feet 5 inches.

I challenge anyone to understand at this distance...