Comme un boomerang

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LIKE A BOOMERANG

Eddy Batkin.

You killed a cop,

a man with three children.

I hope you're happy.

Chief!

We'll deal with them tomorrow.

Captain...

I must warn you, we're ill.

We have certificates to prove it.

Born 1953.

Day...

Month...

Sex...

Male or female?

Want us to strip you?

Drop it, Perez!

We have nothing on Eddy Batkin.

No reform school, not even a fine.

He's not a known addict.

Dad's an industrialist.

Jacques Batkin.

Married to Ferucci's daughter?

Ferucci-Batkin Transportation?

Yeah, but the kid's mother

is called Ginette Favron.

Ginette Favron, yes.

I know the father.

I met him at the prefect's party.

He's on a plane returning from Iran.

His wife will inform Eddy's mother.

What about the house they were at?

More money!

A German banker owns it,

but he's never there.

His sons, the twins,

are studying in Nice.

Studying?

All we can do now

is wait for their lawyers.

Big names, of course.

And the psychiatrists...

And their parents' big shot friends.

In other words, use kid gloves.

What about Grimaldi's wife?

And her three kids...

I know her. I'll go.

When your father gets here,

it'll be a shock for him.

Bear that in mind.

Jacques!

Did you hear about the child?

The child killed a cop, Jacques!

A cop!

Get her off me !

Please...

Come on.

My son killed...

They don't give a damn

about my kid!

It was an accident.

Eddy's not a killer.

Afraid to speak?

You know that's not it.

Here...

You have to go to the police station.

I came as soon as I heard

the news flash on the radio.

Thank you, Muriel.

Thanks for coming.

It was kind.

After all this time, Jacques,

kind is hardly the word.

You're right.

It's much more.

Will you defend Eddy?

No.

You don't want to?

I've taken a step back.

I don't plead cases anymore.

What's this crap?

It's the truth, for God's sake !

I'm the Honourable Mr Ritter,

received by all.

Covered in gold, glory,

and even medals.

The illustrious mummy.

But don't worry,

the mummy will be there.

Believe me,

you'll need two lawyers on this.

I have a young colleague

I can bring into battle.

I'll be in the reserves.

It's best, believe me.

Eddy's very young.

They'll take that into account.

He might be very young,

but he killed.

Why?

Why?

He doesn't even know.

A fear reflex...

They were together to drink,

smoke hash, hang out.

That's their life.

You're an industrialist, I'm a cop...

For them, we're all morons.

What will happen?

He'll get no pity.

He's seventeen!

That's true.

But more and more 17-year-olds kill.

People have had enough.

You might have shared their opinion

until the tables turned.

But there was no premeditation.

So he says. We'll double-check.

Can I see him?

Perez?

Have Eddy Batkin brought in.

Tomorrow, the judge

will take over the case.

What about the others?

Out of fifty, I could only keep six.

Mostly on drug charges.

And their dealers?

You think they should be here,

not these kids. Is that it?

You know, Captain...

Yes?

Batkin, sir.

I felt like I was in a nightmare.

My head was thumping.

And the lights, suddenly...

I thought I was about to die.

I was scared.

I took the shotgun...

and I heard the noise,

like my head was exploding.

Later, they told me I fired.

I killed him.

Yes, you killed him.

Stand up straight.

It's all you have left.

Tell the judge the Hon. Jean Ritter

will be defending you.

Jean?

Tell him everything.

Don't beat around the bush,

don't hesitate.

Don't come off

as a hypocritical little thug.

Got it?

I promise.

I swear I didn't mean to do it.

Before you came, mom was here.

She yelled.

I'll deal with it.

Dad...

You won't be back?

I'll be back!

THE PRICE OF INDULGENCE

We have a news flash.

In a ceremony at City Hall,

the prefect will posthumously award

the legion of honour

to police officer Grimaldi,

killed by the young drug addict

Eddy B.

Now, a word from our sponsors.

Good morning, sir.

Good morning, Mr Batkin.

Boss, we all want to say...

Thank you, Bertrand. I know.

Hello, sir.

I wanted to say,

I heard the news and I'm sure...

Thank you, Florence.

Mr Crozier from Lorrain Equipment

wants an appointment.

Then we have the Italians,

they still want 20 tippers.

And the Japanese need our answer.

Their Paris representative...

Put them off.

I don't want to see anyone.

Mr Ritter is here.

Send him in.

See the papers?

You're surprised?

To that point, yes.

Then stop reading them.

Were you expecting them to go easy?

You're a boss, rich, and in sh*t.

- So they stir it up.

- That's their job.

Tell me, has the kid

seemed normal lately?

- You're thinking drugs?

- Yes.

I didn't notice anything.

Nor did Muriel.

I think it's a new thing,

and occasional.

Alright.

Then let's wait for the file.

What happens then?

Then...

Then we're in the dark, old man.

Up against public opinion.

People are sick of violent crime.

Especially committed by youths.

Even when those youths

come from a...

disadvantaged background,

as they call it.

People want the death penalty.

The death penalty? For Eddy?

I don't think so.

Eddy is very young.

A first offender.

There was no premeditation.

It wasn't a vicious crime.

We can work with all that.

If necessary, I'll take second chair.

But it won't be easy.

Honestly,

what do you think he'll get?

Best case, not less

than fifteen or twenty years.

No. It's too much.

Come on, Jacques!

Your son killed a police officer

in the line of duty.

I know, you're right.

It also depends on

the investigating judge we get.

Know who it might be?

It's not good.

You need to fight for my kid, Jean.

And so will I.

Let go of me !

You're crazy!

I'm his mother!

You don't understand!

You can't stop me seeing the bastard

who sent my kid to prison!

And his slut of a wife

can't have heired!

That b*tch with her money...

- Calm down, people can hear.

- I hope so!

Of course he chose his dad.

He got all he wanted!

Even drugs!

See where her money got you?

I don't care !

I want him! He's mine !

He was my son, you hear me?

That's enough.

Come on, I'll take you home.

Come on.

Jacques...

He's upstairs, ma'am.

He didn't seem any different to me.

And you?

He went out more.

But I knew him, I saw him...

If he was an alcoholic or an addict,

I'd have noticed, right?

He even did sports.

It was yourself you saw.

That beautiful shiny bike...

he only rode it once.

I'm not blind.

I saw him just fine,

exactly as he was.

I always judged those I loved

until it hurt.

I told myself he was young...

No, Jacques.

You didn't know him.

He's not my son,

but I saw him.

Maybe I had the time. You didn't.

The travel, money, business...

You didn't forget you had a son,

but perhaps he wasn't sure

he had a father.

Captain, any news on the Batkin case?

The accused is behind bars.

Case closed.

Anything on his father?

- They say he's of Polish origin.

- So what?

Give us something, Captain.

Help us out!

What's the kid facing?

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