Heartbeat Detector

HEARTBEAT DETECTOR

I worked for seven years

in a multinational company.

I'll call SC Farb.

It was a German company

with a large Parisian subsidiary.

I was the company psychologist

in the Human Resources Department.

I had two responsibilities:

staff selection

and running seminars for executives.

My seminars were based

on the new belief

that motivation

lay at the heart of productivity.

We used a combination of role play,

group dynamics,

and old oriental methods

which encouraged people

to push themselves to the limit.

I've seen grown men

cry like little boys.

I've seen people breaking down,

going into violent rages.

I had to guide them

towards my only goal:

making them soldiers,

knights of the business world,

highly competitive subalterns.

Hey, how are you doing?

How are you?

-You weren't at the coffee machine?

-I was afraid I'd be late.

Is there a meeting?

No. Don't worry.

Betrand sent us a postcard.

-Where is he?

-In Tokyo.

It's rained every day.

He doesn't care.

He's only there for the girls.

All they do is smile.

It gets annoying after a while.

He found a bar

with transparent floors

where he can check out

the waitresses' butts.

Then what does he do?

Nothing. You know him.

Have a nice day!

The company was pulling itself

out of a difficult period.

A restructuring plan had forced

the closure of a production line.

Staff had been cut

from 2500 to 1200.

The management brought me in

to establish evaluation criteria

other than age and seniority.

But I'll come to my part

in this later.

It's too difficult to explain

chronologically.

Mr. Rose is sorry.

Do you mind waiting?

This way, please.

Come and sit down.

What I'm about to tell you

is completely confidential.

The head office has asked me

to sort out a worrying situation.

It's rather delicate.

How do you get on with the CEO?

I don't know him personally.

We see each other in meetings,

but apart from that,

all we do is say hello

and make small-talk.

We have a strictly

professional relationship.

I said this was confidential.

As a psychologist, I'm sure

you know what that word implies.

You're the only person

I wish to speak with about this.

Concerns have been voiced

about what you might call

the "mental state" of our CEO.

They were brought to us

by one of his secretaries

and confirmed by some

worrying behavior at work.

I've known Mr. Jst

for nearly 10 years.

We worked together

at our German HQ.

He hasn't seemed himself

for a while.

It's just a feeling,

but for those who know him,

the difference is striking.

I say "difference".

I hesitate to say "illness".

It's up to you to tell me.

You're the specialist here.

Mr. Jst is a cornerstone

of our operation and recovery

in France.

The Germans want

a detailed report on him.

Like everyone else,

I fervently hope it's favorable.

You're free to proceed

as you see fit,

but this takes priority.

You'll obviously have

to get to know Mr. Jst better.

I'll tell his secretary.

Be discreet.

She's still very fond of her boss.

I know, Mr. Rose told me.

Tomorrow, around 9:00 PM.

-Do you know the Caf Beaubourg?

-Yes.

-Until tomorrow, then.

-See you tomorrow.

-Hello.

-Hi, Ali.

Put that poison out or I'm off.

You're right, it's gone.

If we went to your place

would you sing for me?

If you want.

What would you like to hear?

-Your voice.

-You're hearing it now.

I want to see you sing.

Do you do it at the piano?

Sometimes.

I do it standing up, too.

I can sing sitting or lying down.

Why?

And naked?

Why not.

Like most people do,

in the shower or bath.

Being naked must make it....

It depends who it is.

If I'm naked with Schubert,

Faur, or Mahler,

it's never the same.

You have to choose.

Have you chosen?

Yes.

Why are you laughing?

No reason.

-Let's go.

-I'll think about it.

Louisa!

Sorry?

Don't trust what people

see you in you.

You seem nice.

You should...

"April 12th,

April 17th, May 21st.

Late three times.

No excuse given.

June 3rd.

Taken ill in a board meeting.

Unable to read notes.

Says he has a migraine.

June...

...7th.

Shut himself in office all morning.

Doesn't answer phone.

Sound of water."

"September 2nd.

Signature changed to initials only.

Example included.

November 23rd.

Mr. Jst complains

to cleaning company

that documents have been stolen.

Internal inquiry reveals no evidence.

Withdraws complaint.

February 6th.

Arrives an hour early for work.

Sits motionless in parking lot."

Sh*t!

"February 14th. 11:00 AM.

In an intoxicated state,

not confirmed.

June 5th.

Has trouble composing a letter.

November 2nd.

Replaces two private phones.

Suspects they have been tapped.

December 12th.

Has requested to change his name

from Jst to Schlegel,

his mother's maiden name.

Request refused.

The first confidential file

covered Mathias Jst's career.

I learned he entered the company

at 25 as an engineer.

He climbed the ranks becoming

deputy production manager

and finally CEO.

His CV was accompanied

by several photocopied files,

showing proof of a denunciation policy

within the company.

Thanks, Walter.

Call me at 6:
00 PM.

Yes, Mr. Jst.

Since restructuring,

we store all our data on computer:

staff changes, recruitment,

reports, lay-offs.

It'll be two years

until everything is computerized.

How far back can you go?

To the opening of our branch

in 1929.

They kept records back then?

Of course.

I found the files you asked for

on the Farb Quartet.

They last played together

eight years ago.

Have you been asked to look into it?

No. Why?

I had to get permission

to access the archives.

Really?

No, it's my own idea.

What would you think

of an orchestra in the factory?

Management is obviously interested.

Karl Rose gave his consent

immediately.

I hope it won't be old fogey music.

We want to get down!

You're good at that.

Why don't you come to our parties?

I did. Remember?

No. That's the point.

You came to two,

then played dead!

I get down but play dead!

You're annoying, Simon.

I don't mean to be.

Was it you who called me?

-Jacques Paolini?

-Yes.

We can talk in a caf if you like?

I have very little time,

and even less to say to you.

Who told you about the quartet?

Some of the old guys who miss it.

Really?

The Farb Quartet

brings back bad memories.

What do you mean?

Take four cards:

a king, a queen, a jack,

and a six.

Or a king of spades,

a ten of clubs,

a six of diamonds,

and a three of hearts.

You can't win.

You have to throw in your hand.

I'm sure you can guess the cards:

a CEO, a secretary,

a sales rep, and a chemist.

Music doesn't tolerate hierarchy.

The Franck quartet was a disaster.

Was Mr. Jst the violinist?

How did he play?

He was extremely tense,

obsessively exact.

He was so meticulous

he stifled the music.

Perfectionism belies

an appalling fear of emptiness.

Why are you interested

in the Quartet?

Management has asked me

to come up with some ideas

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes