Maigret (2025) s01e03 Episode Script

1
Our daughter's missing.
Call Chief Inspector Maigret.
The girl you can't find.
You must be as bad a detective
as your father was
at running an estate.
He and I grew
up in the same village.
He wants to renew an old grudge.
Fumal has been
receiving death threats.
I would like you to
investigate them.
Fumal has an instinct
for people's weaknesses.
Next time, be more careful.
Where are you going?
To find out who wants
to kill a billionaire.
Better hurry.
Mass is in 15 minutes.
- Not out
here. - Come on.
Yes?
I need something to eat.
Now?
Yes.
Then I'll wake Felix.
You too. Emails to write.
Yes, sir.
Hurry up!
Clean up and go.
Celine. Mm?
To that loser Roger Gaillardin.
The midnight
deadline has passed.
My offer will now go down
by five million euros
every 24 hours.
Sir?
Dr. Klein confirmed
tomorrow morning.
You'll be there?
To see the heartbeat?
I would not
miss it for the world.
Mm.
Mm.
Yes, Lucas. LUCAS:
Are you near a TV, boss?
Do I have to be?
Yes, a reporter ambushed
Layla's parents,
they're talking.
How
worried are you for Layla?
Worried? W-well,
she's been missing for
more than three days.
Do the
police have any leads?
No, I mean,
they're working hard but it's
just another job for them.
They're working hard but it's
just another job for them.
For us, our whole world's been
ripped apart. Our baby's gone.
What more would
you like to see being done?
The police are
doing the best they can,
but Layla's brought
joy to so many people,
if anyone knows anything
or has seen anything,
please, just tell us,
or tell the police.
Christ,
we're going to be swamped.
Please call Chief
Inspector Maigret
at the Police Judiciaire
or leave a message on
our "Where Is Layla?"
Facebook page that we've set up,
and we'll pass on the
message to the police.
We need your help.
Thank you.
I'll come in.
Janvier is
already outside.
You still don't
know what happened?
No.
Are you worried?
Yes.
The
disappearance of influencer Layla Lyonnet
three days ago.
The police have no leads.
So the mystery deepens, as
do the fears of her parents
and her thousands of fans.
Chief Inspector Maigret.
My boss wants to talk to you.
How did you know where I live?
If Monsieur Fumal wants someone,
he finds them.
Tell him to find his local
police station and talk to them.
What was that about?
Layla fans.
Can I run a couple of them over?
Not today.
It's all
over her Instagram,
where she goes to write poetry
in the Bois de Boulogne?
What idiot let them in here?
Don't
just type, go there.
Yeah, just by the border.
I have your number. Thank you.
Someone saw Layla near the
Spanish border last night.
Twentieth tip this
morning.
Let it go to voice mail.
Lapointe, Cavre, over
here Torrence, you too.
We've got all we need.
Come here he's
gonna see you out.
Let's go through
what we know so far.
Relationships
outside the family?
No boyfriend,
no girlfriend, no close friends.
In her latest video she
was advocating celibacy.
Oh, welcome to the
club. That's a surprise.
What about
relationships at work?
Same picture. She
doesn't have any.
"Work" is just her
and her phones.
Mum and dad handle
the business side.
So unfortunately mum
and dad are right:
she's been missing three days,
we don't have a single lead.
No, we have
dozens of leads.
By the end of the day, we're
gonna have hundreds of leads.
We don't have the manpower
to follow them all up.
She could be kidnapped,
she could be murdered
She could be kidnapped,
she could be murdered
Or she
could be faking it.
Layla was a mid-range influencer
with about 600,000 followers
but she was losing
followers and sponsors.
Now, however, the "Where
Is Layla?" Facebook page
her parents set up has
had over a million hits.
So this is just a
publicity stunt?
No, as far
as we're concerned,
she's still a missing kid,
and we'll put everything
we have into finding her.
Madame prosecutor, we've
got no news as yet,
and the fact that Layla's
parents have decided
I'm
sorry, I'm not here about Layla.
Can you come with
me, Chief Inspector?
Put all calls
through to voicemail,
go through them at
the end of the day.
Get back out there, go to
all the places where Layla
was last seen, ask
questions. We've done that.
Then we do it again!
What did she say? What
was her appearance?
What was her mood?
Lapointe, look at the parents.
Uh wh-What do you mean?
What do you mean
"what do I mean"?
You're the one who suggested
it might be a put-up job.
Look at them.
Minister.
Chief Inspector Maigret.
Chief Inspector.
Give me two minutes.
I apologize for pulling
you away from your work.
Mathilde says you
have your hands full
with this influencer girl.
We do.
Monsieur Fumal called me.
He said he tried to talk
to you this morning.
His driver did. Who is he?
The owner of Fumal. co,
the retail billionaire.
Surely you've heard of him.
I'm not a big shopper.
Fumal has been
receiving death threats.
I would like you to
investigate them.
My unit doesn't investigate
threats, Madame Minister.
If he gets killed,
then we'll investigate.
Maigret, this is
not how you speak
Mathilde. It's all right.
Fumal has many
friends in the media.
If these threats turn out
to be real, or God forbid,
are acted on, a vast amount
of government and police time
will have to be spent
investigating them.
I'm asking you to
nip that in the bud.
Find out what's going on.
Fumal is a bully.
Mathilde tells me
you can't be bullied.
I'm asking you, as
a personal favor,
go and see him.
I don't need to.
He's just showed
up at my office.
Minister.
I'll deal with it.
Even scruffier than
you used to be.
Fumal.
Ferdinand Fumal.
Correct.
Or, as you used to call
me, Fatty Fumal, oink-oink.
Hm, the butcher's son
from Saint-Fiacre,
and you, the estate
manager's son.
Well, look at me now and
look at you.
And, uh,
the girl you can't find.
Did the minister
give you an earful?
She told me to speak to you.
Did she tell you who I was?
Some sort of businessman.
Some sort!
I have revolutionized
food retail
in France, I have
built an empire
Getting death threats?
Yes. Messages.
"I'm going to cut you up."
"You're going to die."
You don't know who's
sending them? No.
Does anyone bear you a grudge
right now? Roger Gaillardin.
I'm buying his business,
and he hates me.
What, enough to
want to kill you?
Well, he's weak. He
could be desperate.
I'll need to see the messages,
take a look around your home and
offices, interview your staff.
I have dozens of offices
and thousands of staff,
but my headquarters
is at my home
at 219 Rue de Courcelles.
I'll tell my secretary
you're coming.
Do you have family?
A wife. Children?
No children.
Same as you.
Do you have lovers, a mistress?
None of your business.
You came to me, it is
my business. She isn't.
Talk to my secretary, Celine.
You'll like her.
Most men do.
See you later, Jules.
What are you, a geisha?
Rude.
Boss, you can't get
involved with this jerk,
we're already
swamped. No choice.
Tell Gaillardin we want to
speak to him, don't say why.
W-Where are you going?
A bar. Then Rue de Courcelles.
Thanks.
Fumal.
Ferdinand Fumal.
Or as you
used to call me, Fatty Fumal.
Or as you
used to call me, Fatty Fumal.
No!
Oink, oink!
Oink, oink, oink.
Come on, guys, let's leave him!
He'll come down
when he's hungry.
Bye-bye!
Boss?
Look, sorry to
interrupt your busy day,
but we might have
something on Layla.
Her spinning class was cancelled
three days ago,
because the instructor,
Marcus Desailly,
stopped turning up.
That's Marcus.
A couple of people in the
class said that he used
to pay a lot of
attention to Layla
flirting, touching,
borderline inappropriate.
They also say that
his cellphone number
went dead three days ago,
the same day Layla disappeared.
Lapointe. Found
where Marcus lives.
What on earth are you doing?
Concierge wouldn't
give me the key,
didn't believe I was a cop,
even said my ID was fake, so
Initiative. I like it.
Clever little Lapointe.
He's a musician.
Paris Conservatoire.
Toothbrush and shaving
stuff have gone.
Bed hasn't been slept in.
Anything that might
belong to Layla?
What, like a fetish?
No, like she was here.
Actually, I could be
right about the fetish.
Marcus's screen saver was Layla
and his password is
her date of birth.
And this is his photo album
He was stalking her.
Posted
yesterday, arrived today.
Opened.
So he was here today.
Or someone was.
We should get out, put
a watch on the place.
Boss? Shall we do that?
Yes.
Good idea.
Where are you going?
To find out who wants
to kill a billionaire.
I know who you are.
This way.
I am Celine Bourges,
personal secretary
to Monsieur Fumal.
"You're going to die"
"I'm going to cut you up."
Oh, I left out
"bastard," "fat ass."
We checked with our
service provider.
The messages came from
pre-paid burner phones.
You can't identify the sender.
Nonetheless, I would
like the numbers.
You have them.
How many staff live here?
Ah myself, Victor
who's Fumal's driver,
Joseph Goldman, his
business manager,
Noemi Madame Fumal's
maid Felix, the chef.
Do you always wear that coat?
In this heat?
How many years have
you worked for Fumal?
Five years.
Is he a good boss?
He's an appalling boss.
How is he appalling?
The usual ways,
plus a few of his own.
Has he abused you?
He once made me strip
in front of him.
Why?
He accused me of stealing money
from his safe in his office.
I denied it; he made
me strip to prove it.
You could have refused.
Could have quit.
What, and
lose my nice job,
my nice apartment, my
You don't like Fumal.
Nobody likes him.
Except perhaps his mistress.
Who's his mistress? I was told
not to say,
so I won't.
Otherwise, you'll lose your
nice job, your nice apartment,
and your boyfriend,
Felix the chef?
Oh, you're good.
I, um, blush when
I'm caught out.
Also when I lie,
which is kind of annoying.
Does Fumal know
about you and Felix?
Probably.
He collects secrets.
Who do you think
is threatening him?
Anyone he's ever
done business with.
For Monsieur Fumal, a
deal is only a success
when the other side is
left weeping in the gutter.
Does that include
Roger Gaillardin?
I don't know.
You're the detective.
Look, is there anything else?
I mean, this is fun, but
I do have work to do.
I would like to talk
to Madame Fumal.
I would like to talk
to Madame Fumal.
Well, it's a bit early.
Follow me.
Noemi, uh, this is
Chief Inspector Maigret.
He'd like to speak
with Madame Fumal.
She has only just had breakfast.
Is she dressed?
Breakfast of champions.
What is it now, Noemi?
My name is Maigret.
Chief Inspector.
Brigade Criminelle.
Has, uh, someone killed him?
No.
Someone has sent messages
threatening to kill him.
You don't share a bedroom
with your husband?
I don't share anything
with my husband.
Why did you marry him?
Because I was in love with him.
You don't want to hear this.
I do.
If you're willing to tell me.
My father owned a
chain of butcher shops
in Brittany that Fumal wanted.
He was courting
me at the same time.
Yeah, he was rich.
And charming.
I was young and pretty.
I thought he loved me.
But he was buying me.
Like I was another shop.
My father encouraged the match.
Uh-huh.
He said it would
keep us together.
But in less than a year,
Fumal had sold the shops,
fired the staff, and, uh, put
the whole business online.
My father came here to protest.
I heard them arguing
in the office.
Fumal said that my
father was a weakling,
that he had
taken his business and his
daughter at a knock-down price,
and he had never
even put up a fight.
Then he got his thug
Victor to throw him out.
Two weeks later, my
father had a heart attack.
I'm sorry.
Why did you stay?
He threatened to cut
me off without a penny,
and, uh, stop
paying for the care
that my father now needs.
You know, I am like
everybody else in this house.
I'm trapped by his money.
And by fear.
Monsieur Fumal
has got another message.
Look.
Look!
"Your cops won't
save you, fat man."
They know about you,
so they must be watching.
Do you know who it is yet?
Maigret! I'm talking to you!
Were the messages sent
from the same number?
No.
It was another
pre-paid burner phone.
Joseph Goldman, Monsieur
Fumal's business manager.
Can I have the number?
Okay, Goldilocks, get out.
You too, creeping Jesus.
I want to have a heart-to-heart
with my childhood friend.
What are you doing?
Sending the number
to our crime lab.
It's gotta be someone here.
I know they hate me.
They lie to my face and
they steal behind my back.
Do you know that, Ferdinand?
For a fact?
I know they look down
their nose at me,
because I came from nothing
and now I have everything.
Do I know they steal?
Well, Goldman insider trades
on the back of every
one of my deals.
Celine has been nicking
petty cash for years.
She has 5,000 euros
rolled up in the left toe
of her Bottega Veneta
boots in her closet
saving up so her and
her boyfriend Felix
can buy a bar in Gien.
Felix over-orders
for the kitchen,
then flogs the surplus
to local restaurants.
My lovely wife is drunk all day
and entertains her
gentleman friend all night.
You didn't find any of this out?
You must be as bad a detective
as your father was
at running an estate.
He was good at his job.
He was terrible.
He was about to be fired
when he had his stroke.
Saved everyone a lot
of embarrassment.
Strange,
how our childhood idols fail
us when we learn the truth.
The Countess de
Saint-Fiacre, for example.
Or Sophie, as she
insists I call her.
Yeah, we're friends.
But the stories I've
heard about her.
Dear, oh dear.
You had a crush on
her, didn't you?
I remember how she
used to call
"Jules!
"Jules!" And you'd come running.
"Jules!
Jules"
I don't need you,
you creep, get out.
I'm not scared of
this great lunk.
What are you doing?
Making a call.
Lucas.
Get Inspector Cavre to Fumal's.
He's to stay here
until I say otherwise.
What about Roger Gaillardin?
Have you checked him out yet?
Okay.
Meet me there.
Gaillardin's a criminal.
Should've been
locked up years ago,
and I can prove it.
One of my detectives
will be here soon.
Any news on Layla's
spinning instructor, Marcus?
No. Parents know nothing,
No. Parents know nothing,
Friends know nothing.
He's vanished into the
same black hole she has.
We are looking.
Monsieur Gaillardin
have you been
sending death threats
to Ferdinand Fumal, sir?
I'm sorry, I beg your pardon?
Death threats. Texts.
"You're going to die."
"I'm going to cut you up."
No, I haven't.
Do you dislike Monsieur Fumal?
Yes, he's a vile human being.
He said you were a criminal.
Of course he did.
He insults me,
he bribes, blackmails my board,
bullies my suppliers, and
feeds gossip to the media.
My share price has halved
in less than six months.
So why did he say
you were a criminal?
I don't need to explain
his disgusting slanders,
not to you or anyone.
I didn't threaten him.
If I'd wanted him dead,
I wouldn't send messages,
I'd just walk up to him
and shoot him in the face.
Thank you for talking to us.
solidify and
might block your drains.
So, either use a tissue
or a kitchen towel
and put it in the bin.
This is my favorite brand.
I'm doing detective
work for you.
Layla. This is when
she broke through,
age seven
lip-synching to some
of her favorite artists.
getting down tonight ♪
Call my girls, all
my sisters get right ♪
So full of joy. Get
your high heels on ♪
And your little black dress
No wonder people loved her.
'Cause you're gonna
impress tonight ♪
We only drink champagne,
that's right ♪
Then, the
brands moved in.
Still lovely, still innocent.
Next comes sex.
More pout, less smile,
but she's still in control,
still enjoying herself.
But then there's this.
On the fan sites, they
call it the dark post.
It was made two months ago,
and it was deleted less than a
minute after it was recorded,
but a couple of people
managed to save it.
Hey, guys.
Hey, guys.
I just wanted to say
that only you can judge you.
Don't be afraid to stand up,
don't be afraid to be alone.
Love will find you.
Love is waiting.
Life really wasn't fun anymore.
Like she was trapped
being watched all the time,
and judged.
Well, she was being watched.
By her spinning instructor.
Marcus.
Looks like he was stalking her.
Are there more
photographs like this?
Lots.
Actually like
this? Oh, yes. Why?
Seems kind of innocent.
Moers.
He what?
Are you sure?
Okay, okay.
I'm on my way.
Show me.
Hello to you, too.
I analyzed the cell data
from the two numbers used
to send the messages.
I also got the
locations they
were sent from.
I suspect that, as I
will soon demonstrate,
the user did not know
that even burner phones
can now have GPS, which
reveals their location.
The first threat was
sent four days ago.
The second, the next day.
But, in the same
time span
Three longer messages:
To a journalist's Twitter feed,
a online gossip column,
a restaurant critic.
All anonymous,
either attacking
Roger Gaillardin
or praising Ferdinand Fumal.
"Gaillardin has been a
total disaster as C.E.O.
The board should welcome
Fumal with open arms."
That pattern continues.
Anonymous threats against Fumal,
anonymous texts praising Fumal,
attacking Gaillardin.
It's weird, but it
doesn't necessarily
Then you add the third factor.
I used Fumal's own phone
to track where he's been
for the last four days.
All the same places.
What, he sent himself
the death threats?
Thank you, Moers.
Your former
colleagues supply the manpower,
former clients and contacts
the threat intelligence
And you have the makings
of a highly profitable
private security company.
And you'd provide
the funding for this?
Oh, yes. Seriously?
Well, well,
the great detective.
A glass of wine,
Chief Inspector?
No. You sure?
Cavre says you've usually
had a couple by now.
I have some information.
I'd rather tell you privately.
Why?
Is Goldman trying to kill me?
He hasn't
got the balls.
Well, come on then.
Spit it out.
Our technicians have
analyzed the phone numbers
used to send the threats.
They have 99%
degree of certainty
that you sent them yourself.
That's rubbish.
Read the analysis.
In my opinion,
there is no threat
to you at this time,
and I am withdrawing
my team from your case.
Go on then, piss off.
You too, you little sponger.
Hey, he begged us to set him up
with a private security
company. He suggested it.
Come on, Cavre.
Hey, before you scuttle off,
do you know what
I'm gonna do next?
I'm buying Saint-Fiacre.
The chateau. I made
the countess an offer.
She didn't like it,
but she'll take it.
She's up to her ears in debt.
The butcher's boy,
owner of Saint-Fiacre.
Maybe they'll even
make me a count.
Why did you ask for me, Fumal?
I saw you on TV,
because of the girl
you can't find,
so I wanted to see
if you were as
good as they say
or if, as your loyal
subordinate says,
you've been promoted
too far, too fast.
That's not the
real reason, is it?
No. No, it's not.
I wanted to see
if you were still
the smug little hypocrite
you were back then.
Hypocrite?
Pretending to be my friend
and laughing at
me up your sleeve.
You were even worse
than the others.
I despised you then,
I despise you now.
Get out!
Go on.
Fumal has an instinct
for people's weaknesses.
You let him find
yours and use it.
Next time, be more careful.
Er
I'm sorry.
Yes, Janvier.
Boss, two of Layla's fans
just broke into
Marcus's apartment.
Layla's amateur sleuths.
Managed to grab the
little bastards.
How did they get in?
How did they get in?
Same way we did.
Asked questions at
Layla's exercise class.
I thought the
plan was you and Lapointe
would keep watch. We were.
Apartment across there.
They were too quick
pulled up in an Uber and ran in,
bust down the door before
we could stop them.
Trashed the place.
Hope we're not
interrupting you, Lapointe.
I'm just checking the
"Where Is Layla?" Facebook page.
Yep.
Marcus is on it,
and his apartment.
Plus, there's a thread:
"Why didn't the cops come clean
about Marcus Desailly?'
This is out of control, boss.
What if one of these
hormonal wackos
gets to Marcus before we do?
Madame prosecutor.
I did.
I will.
Right, seal this place.
Priority is Marcus.
We have to find him
before someone else does.
Okay.
It's fine.
It's not a problem,
he's with me.
Fumal.
What do you have to say?
What did he tell you?
Many things.
Mainly that you were
rude, incompetent,
and out of your depth.
And you didn't even find
out who was threatening him.
Oh, so that's one thing
he didn't tell you.
What?
He sent himself
the death threats.
Why, for God's sake?
Because he thinks
everyone is out to get him
and he wanted police protection.
You mean this was just paranoia?
Partly paranoia. There
is another reason.
He and I grew up in
the same village.
He wanted to renew
an old grudge.
Didn't you think it odd that of
all the detectives at La Crim
he asked for me?
And there's a third reason.
He wanted to show he
had power over you.
What that is and why, I
don't know and I don't care,
but I know he collects secrets.
That's how he does business.
Now, Layla Lyonnet
has been missing
nearly four days.
I don't want to waste
another minute on Fumal.
Wait. Is Fumal in danger?
Only in his imagination.
You can trust him,
Minister.
All right.
Thank you, Maigret.
I need your help
with the Layla case.
It's the police!
Have you found her?
Inspector, have
you found her yet?
Inspector! Do you
have any leads?
Have you found Layla?
Madame Lyonnet,
Prosecutor Kernavel.
Come in, please.
Monsieur Lyonnet.
Have a seat.
Have you got any news for us?
I hoped I would have news,
but due to the behavior
of some of Layla's fans,
police surveillance of a
suspect was disrupted, and
police surveillance of a
suspect was disrupted, and
Then Marcus Desailly
is a suspect?
We're keen to talk to him,
to find out what he
knows about Layla.
What do you mean, what he knows?
He knows everything.
He was stalking her.
Possibly.
But because of the
fans, his name and face
were all over social media,
including your Facebook page.
So finding him will
be infinitely harder.
I'm sorry about that,
but her fans are upset.
We're upset.
Our daugh
our daughter's missing,
and the police
are doing nothing.
They identified
Marcus, didn't they?
Yeah, okay.
Is that all you've come for,
to complain about Layla's fans?
No, I would like you
to call them off.
What, like they're dogs?
They're people.
They care about her.
And if we don't "call them
off," what are you going to do?
I would very
reluctantly prosecute you
for obstructing a
police investigation.
We
We've lost our daughter
and you're threatening us?
You're unbelievable.
No, don't touch that!
You've no right to do that.
To stop you filming us
without our consent?
We absolutely do.
I'm serious, call off the fans.
Do you know what the
worst case scenario is?
Yeah, we sue you.
The worst case scenario is
Layla has been kidnapped,
and this publicity makes
the kidnapper panic.
That's when kidnaps go wrong,
when we recover the victim
not living but dead.
Please.
Do what Prosecutor
Kernavel is asking.
Call the fans off.
Tonight we comin' through ♪
Hangin' with my crew ♪
What you wanna do ♪
Sexy ladies ♪
Hey.
Hey.
Someone just called for you
Sophie de Saint-Fiacre?
The countess?
The countess.
You'd better call her back.
Do you want her number?
Please.
Jules.
Sophie.
You've grown up. Er, it happens.
Two Calvados, please.
We'll drink to the
memory of your father.
He and I would always
have a Calvados together
when we went through
the estate accounts.
Perhaps that's why they
were always so confused.
No
Jules, I'm joking!
Your father was
always scrupulous.
But, seriously,
how many years is it since
we last met, 20 years?
Nearly 20 years.
It's too long.
And in all that time,
you've never been
back to Saint-Fiacre?
No.
Thank you.
Your wife sounds nice.
Do you have children?
Not yet.
Though we've just learned
she's pregnant, so
Well, that's wonderful news.
Now we really do have
something to drink to,
not just old times.
To your firstborn.
I wish my son would settle
down and get married.
You remember Maurice?
Of course.
Why are we meeting here?
And not at your apartment?
Well, you are the detective.
We're here
because I'm selling
the Paris apartment.
It's all packing cases and
empty spaces on the wall
where the paintings
used to hang.
Ferdinand Fumal.
He's why you wanted to see me.
Yes.
He's trying to buy Saint-Fiacre.
You knew?
I worked with him, briefly.
He told me.
When I say trying to buy,
it's more like
forcing me to sell,
and offering me an
insultingly low price.
He said you were in debt.
The things people
tell policemen.
Did he also tell you
he's blackmailing me?
It's how he does his deals.
He looks for weaknesses.
Well, he's found mine.
I was not a saint
after my husband died.
Some of my ex-lovers
have evidence of my wild years.
And Fumal?
Well, he's willing to buy it.
For myself?
I don't give a damn, but when
I think about Maurice
and the Saint-Fiacre name
dragged through the
mud by this bully?
Sophie?
Are you all right?
I'm fine now.
What I don't understand
What I don't understand
is how he gets away
with this behavior.
How he can harass and
bribe and blackmail.
What do you want me to do?
Stop him.
Are you asking me as police?
I'm asking you as a man.
Come to beg, have you?
The answer's still no.
What did your countess want?
My help.
Did you help?
No.
Big day tomorrow.
The heartbeat.
Lucas?
Boss,
the police were called
to Fumal's house an hour ago.
He's been shot.
At least three gunshots, and
none of you heard anything?
Lies. That house
is full of lies.
I trusted you.
You're doing everything you can.
Where were you last night?
Are you serious?
You're like a jackal
let others do the killing
and wait for the scraps.
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