The Monocle's Sour Laugh (Le monocle rit jaune)

Oh, it's you, Dromard. - Yes, Sir. My assignment is over.

Very well. Here are the elements of your next one.

Start the projection as soon as you're ready.

Got it.

Now, briefly, here are the facts.

On the 5th of May, in the area of Moscow,

professor Vorontsov was killed in a car accident.

The brakes of the car had been sabotaged.

The professor was a Soviet nuclear rocket specialist.

Whether it's an individual accident,

or a large-scale disaster such as this, also sabotage,

we face a series of attacks occurring in every country in the world,

and always targeting men working in scientific research.

Here, 12 7 people died in the street.

Here, you can see a derailed train in the USA, also the result of an attack.

Scientists, transports, prototypes, electrical facilities, factories,

every single thing that could help nuclear physics is targeted.

And last week, they tried to bomb the factory in Marcoul.

What do you think of it? - Bad series.

Yes. Well, Dromard, all those attacks have a common element, atomic research.

We think the same person, or group of persons,

is responsible for all of them.

We must know who they are, and l'm relying on you for the task.

But what about the U.N.?

France decided to go solo on this case.

To alert an international organization

would have prompted the creation of a dozen committees and subcommittees

before any action could have been taken.

l know, Sir, that you prefer...

Not to lose any time in useless talk.

Do we face a group of fanatics?

Some sect or freemasonry reborn? A conspiracy?

We must act, Dromard. Now.

What does your file include?

Two suspects.

This man's name is Bergourian.

He participated in the aborted sabotage of the Marcoul facilities.

His accomplices were shot. We allowed him to escape.

ln Marseille, he boarded the ''Laos'', bound for Hong-Kong.

This young woman seems to follow him like a shadow.

Her name is Valerie Castarelli.

She's also en route to Hong-Kong.

Other than that, she's totally unknown to our services.

Bergourian is our only lead.

You must dog his steps and find the head of his network.

l leave it to you.

As usual, your instructions... - l know, Sir.

Dromard, you have full clearance, during your mission,

to act in the best interest of France.

ln less than twelve hours, sergeant Poussin and l will be aboard the ''Laos'',

and we'll escort M. Bergourian to China. And farther if necessary.

This land is eternal China, M. Poussin.

Can you smell the perfume of the trade winds

bringing the sweet smells of the Middle Kingdom?

Can you hear the tinkling of Ming era china..

ln verdant palaces where mandarins while away the quiet hours

in the company of lascivious concubines?

When l was a child,

the good friars collected the silver wrappings of our chocolate bars

in order to buy pants for Chinese kids.

That's a lot of chocolate bars.

Yes. A whole generation of French kids, including myself,

got liver trouble, so that babies from Peking

wouldn't get red buttocks from exposure. How moving.

lf Chinese hospitality is not a legend, somebody must be waiting for our friend.

And not just anybody.

Welcome to Hong-kong.

Chinese hospitality... How's this for a start?

Go figure who shot him. They all look alike.

That's the end of our lead, l'm afraid.

l must admit, this is a very aggravating incident.

lt's hard to believe that anybody could regret the passing of M. Bergourian,

but l've already met absurdly emotional creatures

and we can assume, that this one knew him.

At last we're having some luck.

Please allow me to pay you my respects, major.

l'm Frederic de la Perouse, a secretary at the French Consulate.

l've been asked to make your mission easy and enjoyable.

l'm really sorry. l couldn't know.

And your chief asked me to welcome you.

Oh, then it was the Colonel...

Yes, he's an old friend of Father's.

He knew me when l was a newborn baby,

so, of course, he trusts me.

He can safely do that, he's in Paris.

l have my instructions regarding you.

lf l understand correctly, we must take orders from you?

Your understanding is perfect, major. - What was that again?

Please, Poussin, don't get excited. What are those instructions?

First, to have you stay at a place downtown,

in order to avoid attention by the British police.

Second, to make your task easier. - Good start.

Anyway, l'll try to provide you with information on Bergourian.

Bergourian died on the pier, and the trail is lost.

Yes, but l'll visit the British Police headquarters.

l'll be less conspicuous than you would be.

The English? Beware, major!

l didn't know that we're at war with the English !

Young man, it's always a good thing to be at war with the English.

The man that you're going to visit must be your only contact in Hong Kong.

You don't move.

l'll have your luggage delivered

and shall give you instructions over the phone.

Does the owner speak French?

At least he's holding a French passport.

OK, you're in the Chinese town,

you take the stairs.

l can't go with you for fear of being spotted,

but the place is really easy to find

it's in the first wide street that you'll encounter downstairs, with arches.

Just ask for Temple Street and find number 1 1A.

lt's not exactly luxurious, but it's cosy... well, it's habitable.

You'll see a small staircase which will lead you up to a flat.

On the door you'll see an inscription, Elie Services. That's it.

Please excuse our intruding in your home.

Welcome, major! l'm Elie Mayerfitsky.

l can see we have no secrets for you.

Apparently, our young embassy attache doesn't believe in silence.

Mister Elie Mayerfitsky, you say?

Elie Services. A great cover, major.

l'm the main supplier for crews and passengers alike.

Mandarin dresses, cameras, radios, Chinese pyjamas

and... a few good addresses.

Quality and discretion.

Well, until l say otherwise, to you and anybody, my name is Perceval.

And, please, Mister Mayerfitsky, avoid mentioning my rank.

You can count on me, majo... mister Perceval.

l know only too well how, in our line of work,

speaking carelessly can be lethal.

Beware, beware, enemy ears are listening.

Didn't know it was a Chinese saying.

Shut up, Poussin. lf Mr. Mayerfitsky is somewhat experienced,

you might very well get the chance not to complain about it.

Oh, experienced... l've had many experiences,

though, not all of them happy.

ln order to survive, l had to learn fast.

The war cross with palms. The voluntary enlisted medal.

The... Far East medal.

Are these all of your achievements?

No. l started in Berlin, in 1918.

The year l was born. A bad year.

A question of perspective.

Oh, you know, when you've been a 15 year old boy in 1933, in Nazi Germany,

and your name is Elie Mayerfitsky...

your notions of homeland and history are rather disrupted.

We knew ourselves a few unpleasantnesses, soon afterwards.

l knew them too, major.

Belgium, the retreat toward the bridges on the Loire River, the Debacle.

l crossed the Spanish frontier, then it was North Africa,

the ltaly campaign,

and at last: June 1944, the Great Day!

The Normandy landings.

And then, Elie?

Tonkin. Up to Dien Bien Phu.

After that, l found that my springs were broken.

The times had changed. When l was discharged,

l decided to stay in the Far East, but l had to choose a side.

And you obtained a French passport in exchange for...?

A small job. l'm the Secret Services receiving clerk, here.

ls this an official title?

No. My pay is classified in your files under,

''miscellaneous expenses''.

You'll have to prove that it's worth more than that.

Sorry...

Hello? Oh, it's for you, maj... mister Perceval.

You friend Bergourian was the bursar of a banker named Pei Tong Sen,

who will be found tonight in Aberdeen, in an illegal gambling circle.

Elie will take you there. Tell him it's ''Yong's''.

Congratulations, young man.

Well, they always talk bad of clerks,

when in fact, they're doing most of the job.

lt's here. ln one of those junks. - Which one?

Yong's.

We'll have to ask for directions.

lt's always on the move.

Because of the police, since it harbours illegal gambling.

Some even say, opium is smoked there.

An opium den? At last! The air will smell of China !

This place seems full of dubious characters.

Do you carry a gun, my dear Elie? - Oh, no, l'm not, major.

l think you're definitely careless. - Oh, l've got my lucky charm, major.

Perfect. But call me Perceval, please. Poussin !

Here it is! l recognize it.

Mister Pei Tong Sen? - Yes.

Please allow me to introduce myself, l'm professor Perceval.

From Dignes. l'm French. - Charmed, l'm sure.

l'd like to talk to you about Mr. Bergourian,

in the company of whom l travelled.

Please, do me the honour to lie at my side.

Only a fool can believe he's wise, when he hides his true soul.

What about telling me the truth?

Gladly.

l had spotted Bergourian, and l know why he was killed.

His masters probably thought it was convenient

to cut a line that could lead me to them.

Only you can help me now. Who are they?

The people who, in a few moments,

are going to kill me and to kill you.

A very ominous prospect.

But, is it unavoidable?