Rapt

No, I'll be in China with the French president.

Not until February, I think.

All right, see him about it.

We'll talk on Friday. Good-bye.

Minister, hello.

How are you?

Very well, and you?

The president is delighted to take you to China.

French industry and diplomacy

must work together.

Your predecessors never realized that.

Sorry, I have a meeting.

That's all right.

Hello, honey. had a good day?

And you? great.

How are my girls?

See you next Monday.

Good night.

We can redo your essay tonight. It's no good for now.

I'm going.

Your sister could help you.

See you later.

Seen her essay?

Hello, Sir. how are you?

Very well.

Are you all right?

Hands up!

Freeze!

Freeze, I said!

Open your mouth!

Time to sleep now.

Sit.

You had separate rooms?

No.

He slept here when he got home late

or when we fought sometimes.

Is the name Vilar familiar?

No.

Get out, we're here. And don't make a sound!

Move!

On your knees.

Get up.

Cooperate and you'll be fine.

Your money's what we want.

We mean business.

We'll send your family a finger to prove that.

First, write we want 50 million Euros.

By Thursday,

in used notes only.

They'll get delivery instructions.

If we spot the cops anywhere,

you won't be seen again. Write.

They can't access my account.

It's my money. They can't touch it.

Shut up and write!

It'll take more than two days.

Do it, chairman!

Who gets it?

Head office, Rue de Touraine.

We asked who!

Jean—Jacques Garnier and André Peyrac.

Can I write to my wife?

Okay.

If she doesn't pay up, you die Friday.

Just tell her that.

Or rather,

say you love her.

You may not get another chance.

Let's do it.

Swallow this!

Who told you to take the mask off?

If you see our faces for even half a second,

you die. Get it?

Get it?

If you come out or we come in,

wear the mask when we tell you to. Get that?

Get it?

Dip your finger in this!

Okay, good.

I followed the planned procedure.

His full powers are delegated to me until he returns.

With his accounts frozen,

his family simply can't pay.

I suggest that the group advances the ransom.

Of course.

How much?

The kidnappers haven't said yet.

I think we should plan on around 20 million Euros.

We agree it's an advance?

Yes. The group won't have to pay.

Can you guarantee that, Mr. Peyrac?

I'd be honored to, Mr. De Montrouveau.

But I'm not that solvent and I'd make a poor guarantor.

Don't be idiotic. You know what I mean.

Are you sure they will refund us?

Please, Montrouveau. I trust them.

If it's a problem, I'll guarantee the loan.

Certainly not.

We'll just wait and see.

Well, since we all agree,

do what's necessary, Peyrac.

Had you noticed anything odd lately?

No.

Unusual phone calls?

Not that I recall.

Is the name Vilar familiar? — no.

And you, Mr. Garnier?

Me neither.

An urgent delivery, Sir.

It could be from a corpse.

Just to impress you. it's his.

The nail's bitten to the quick.

He's always done that.

They want you to deliver the ransom.

Why is that?

As his friend, no doubt. An old friend.

You have a code name. Touraine.

They'll be Davout.

Be in your office at midnight on Thursday with 50 million Euros.

You'll receive orders by phone.

Is it his writing? — yes.

Sit down, Mr. Garnier.

We've identified Vilar. A fellow poker player.

I wouldn't know.

Two days ago, the chairman signed a 50,000—euro IOU.

He'd lost that much.

Impossible. He never staked that much.

It's absurd.

It wasn't unusual.

He'd even go much higher.

We're hearing from casinos too.

It could be more there.

Much more in fact.

Do you know what they do among crooks when people don't pay up?

Cut a finger off.

Our chairman isn't a crook.

He isn't, no.

But I don't know whom he saw.

And you don't either.

How can he act like that in a position of responsibility?

It's his private life, minister...

Be quiet!

Two weeks ago, the French president

spoke of him warmly in public.

Almost fraternally.

The head of a leading French firm

must be irreproachable.

Don't you think employers have a bad enough image as it is?

What do you plan to do?

His wife wants to pay. I understand.

But I don't approve.

The police stay on it.

Yes, minister.

If I may, I'd like a word with Mrs. Graff in private.

There's nothing to discuss. My clients want to save him.

So do I. But paying won't guarantee his safe return.

Can you guarantee it, inspector?

No.

But whom do you trust? Crooks or the police?

You think solely of public order.

Refusing to pay will discourage other kidnappers.

Too bad if a man dies!

Please, keep your humanist theories

for the courtroom.

I'll talk to the family.

Please do, Mr. Garnier.

Remember, a ransom handover is always very dangerous.

They'll move fast to profit from your fragility.

You won't resist the pressure. No one can resist.

Don't refuse anything, but let me handle things.

No, I won't take any risks.

You know what will happen if the media find out and they will.

I heard about his finger on TV.

It's part of their strategy to contact the media.

But, together, we can control information.

That can be a decisive advantage.

In a psychological war, get all the weapons on your side.

I don't know.

I need to think.

It's a matter of hours.

It's your decision alone, Francoise.

No one will criticize you.

Even so, you need to know you can't pay 50 million.

That's not the problem for now. We'll negotiate.

How high can we go?

Given his personal funds, up to 20 million.

No higher?

Reasonably, no.

Are there accounts you don't know about?

In Luxembourg or Switzerland, maybe.

No. I'm sorry. He had no secrets from me.

Financially anyhow.

That amount is the sum of all his available funds.

I thought we were richer.

So did I.

But you're no doubt right, Mr. Peyrac.

20 million then.

It's not even half. — It's still a lot.

They'll think twice.

How can his fortune have melted away like that?