03x07 - Het geluk van anderen

[bunniefuu]

m*rder.

That’s 20 years. Or life, like me.

- Professor, you'll waste away here.
- It's okay.

So you're resigned to the situation.

At the Assize Court
this will be the maximum penalty.

- There are worse things.
- Don't do more time than you have to.

- It's your way of redeeming yourself.
- I deserve to be punished.

Inspection.

Come on, inspection.

Come on.

Hey, guard!

Guard... take it easy.

- Come on, put that away.
- I have to report this, Steven.

You can't be serious.

Antwerp!

Not words, but actions, RAFC!

f*cking hell.
Hey, you c**t, I'll smash your head in.

Pipelo!

Yeah.

Come on, boys.

200.

Take it or leave it.

Guard, guard...

Don't take them all at once.

What is it?

Okay, okay...

Thanks.

Morning.

Boss...

Ludo Govaerts, guard.
Found by a colleague this morning.

- Seems he was already dead last night.
- Witnesses?

- No.
- What, no witnesses?

- Motive?
- He wasn't very popular.

- A guard among 250 prisoners.
- And that's modest. 252.

We can hardly take them all in.

Okay, I'll talk to the warden
to see how we can do this.

- Then I really must go.
- Is it today? Good luck, Paul.

- Yes, thanks.
- Good luck.

Thanks!

So today’s the big day.

Nervous?

Jasper!

You're far too young for that.

I'd be nervous.

Thankfully, I’m not like my dad.

Of course,
the father of the kid that OD’d.

You should say something, Jasper.

I'm sorry your life
no longer has purpose.

You're the only one who dares say it.
Come on, it’s time.

“The hatred of evil is the regal robe

“with which the Pharisee
masks his personal antipathies.°

Martin Heidegger.

- Friedrich Nietzsche.
- Oh yes, true.

We'll show that the defendant, Jasper
Teerlinck, acted with premeditation.

He went home
to fetch the m*rder weapon,

made his way to the scene of the crime

and there shot dead Serge Lauwers,
Chief Inspector of Police,

In cold blood.

Thank you, Your Honour.

- And now the defence, please.
- Thank you, Your Honour.

I fear matters
are a little more complicated

than you've been told...
than the prosecution has...

I mean, I don't completely agree...

I wrote it down here somewhere, wait.

What my eloquent lawyer is trying to say
is that her client pleads guilty.

- Professor...
- I did fetch the weapon from home

and I was of sound mind
when I shot Chief Inspector Lauwers.

My only regret is that it makes
such a bloody mess...

- Professor!
- sh**ting someone, I mean.

For the rest, I hope this poor show
is over quickly

So that we can all go home.

- Quiet, please.
- I know what you're doing.

Causing outrage to incite as much
antipathy as possible. Well done.

- Thank you.
- Quiet, please.

- Did you see or hear anything?
- What's it worth?

Victor, yes or no?

If you want me to say something,
I'll say whatever you want.

Guard Ludo...

he was a really nice guy.

He really was.

- No understand.
- But you speak English.

No understand English.

Mr Teerlinck,
would you stand up, please?

We have heard you confess
to the m*rder of Serge Lauwers.

What interests me most
is the question why.

Pursuing that seems a waste of time.
It's all in the file.

- I want to hear it from you personally.
- So do I, actually.

Mr Teerlinck?

Well, Christina Flamant, former
commissioner of the Federal Police,

was in a relationship
with Serge Lauwers.

I tried to convince her that Chief
Inspector Lauwers couldn't be trusted.

- But she ignored your advice.
- Yes.

Because women in love
lose all common sense.

It's the hormones. I could explain it to you
but I fear there’s no time.

- Right. What happened that day?
- Ms Flamant found out I was right.

I knew that would
make her behave unreasonably.

And how did you know that?

- That's an interesting question.
- Your Honour, we're digressing.

- Counsel, that’s not for you to judge.
- I don't mind.

I compiled a list of 22 questions

to determine if Someone
is capable of m*rder.

- 29... that’s more than the cut-off.
- I knew it.

- And Ms Flamant scored high...
- Your Honour, I must consult my client.

This is very unusual.

sorry, with all due respect,
you must give me another chance.

- We agreed on a Strategy.
- Correction.

- We agreed on a strategy.
- Correction.

You imposed your strategy on me.

You don't understand. Our only chance
is to plead mitigating circumstances.

- It won't work if we don't stick to the plan.
- Your plan.

Everyone's laughing behind my back.

They say this is the most hopeless case
ever to go to a Belgian court.

But I took it.

And I'll keep fighting.

Maybe you could do something in return.

She’s got a point.

You have a point.

Your Honour, my client no longer wishes
to answer any more questions.

Mr Teerlinck, you do understand
that this may harm your defence?

I fear I'm unable
to answer that question.

He fears he is unable to answer
that question, Your Honour.

Jasper, how long
will you keep this up?

- No longer than necessary.
- I thought so.

We talked to Guga Mikaize.

Difficult, it was in Albanian.

This is the translation.

What was the row about?

It seems you shouted something at him.

Hey, you c**t,
I'm going to smash your head in.

“I don't speak Dutch.
I didn't understand.”

“He was angry.”

“He was shouting.”

“Who shouted at who, Guga?”

“Steven at guard Ludo.”

“Steven who?”
“Dierckx.”

Steven...

Dierckx.

- That's you, right, Steven Dierckx?
- Come on, Dierckx, answer.

- Yes.
- What was the row about, Steven?

I have to report this.

- No row, I just shouted at him.
- And why?

He smashed my coffee machine.

He was searching my cell
and smashed my coffee machine.

- Why was your cell searched?
- Yes, why?

- It's a weekly routine.
- There you go.

What did you shout at him,
Steven Dierckx?

Hey, you c**t,
I'm going to smash your head in.

c**t, you’re smashing everything.

Or you've smashed everything, you c**t.
I don't remember.

something with c**t, anyway.

Jasper stood there...

with his hunting r*fle.

Don't do it, Christina.

- I shouted...
- And then he fired the shot?

- Yes, but...
- So you saw with your own eyes

- Yes, but...
- So you saw with your own eyes

- Yes, but...
- So you saw with your own eyes

that Mr Teerlinck
shot Chief Inspector Lauwers?

Yes.

- Did he have a reason to do that?
- Prosecutor...

Were you threatening
serge Lauwers with a weapon?

Ms Flamant?

You want to sh**t me, is that it?

Here, go ahead. sh**t me. sh**t.

No.

Jasper, she's lying.

Yes.

Professor... it's not the right moment,
but we have a question.

- Does it matter that you had a g*n?
- It gives him a reason.

Firstly, that’s not true.
secondly, it doesn't help him.

You wanting to k*ll Lauwers
doesn't mean he can.

If you take back your words,
you career is over.

- Yes, I know.
- Are we interrupting?

No.

Let me move over.

It's not good, is it?

No. No, but that's always the way.

The first day is the Day of Facts,
as they say?

Always very confrontational.

Things will improve tomorrow.

I hope so.

- Yes. Coffee?
- Yes.

Right, so Guard Ludo sent you
to solitary confinement for no reason?

The professor helped you
with your intimate visitor, remember?

That made it worse.
He knew about my intimate visitor, right,

So just to piss me off,
he put me in solitary.

Okay, thanks, that'll do.

Okay, next.

Ludo Govaerts, divorced, two kids
that he no longer had contact with.

For the rest, no hobbies,
no activities other than work.

Surprisingly few contacts in his phone.
One interesting number.

- Look at this message.
- “Any more rabbits for sale?”

- “Rabbits” is code for cocaine.
- Yes, I know.

- Like “salad” for weed.
- Is that true?

I didn’t know that.

We sent a message to the number
to meet up.

- As Ludo Govaerts.
- Yes, yes...

- Need back-up?
- We'll be all right.

Okay.

- What if it's an actual rabbit seller?
- Keep me up to date, okay?

- What if it's an actual rabbit seller?
- Keep me up to date, okay?

According to your expert opinion,
Ms van Eeckhout,

did the defendant know what he was doing
when he shot Serge Lauwers?

Professor Teerlinck
is a highly intelligent man.

Moreover, he can be
extremely manipulative.

He was of sound mind
when he pulled the trigger.

I would like to add nuance
to my colleague's statement.

It's true that Jasper
knew what he was doing

but at the same time,
I feel that he had to do what he did.

- You mean he had no choice?
- Correct.

Nonsense.

- Why?
- Excuse me, Doctor.

Protocol dictates
that I ask the questions.

- Why is that nonsense, Mr Teerlinck?
- A human being always has a choice.

Look at Bentham
and the other utilitarians.

Mr Teerlinck, what in God’s name
are you doing?

Right now, I'm sorting the suspects
in another m*rder case by probability.

But please carry on.

- This is your trial.
- Yes, but I don't find it interesting.

Quiet, please.

Isn't that a stronger motive?

Counsel...

Why wouldn't the defendant
have had a choice?

I don't know. Jasper is clever enough
not to show his inner self.

something must have happened
in the past, something that...

temporarily blocked his free will.

Christina, you can’t keep it up.
You wont be able to live with it.

You'll tell the truth one day,
hopefully not too late.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury,
I hear maybe, possibly and perhaps,

but without established facts...

- Your Honour?
- Christina!

Ms Flamant?

I want to revise my testimony.

That evening...

I’m working late at the office tonight.

I've got a lot to do.

I'd really like it if you dropped by.

I only had one thought,
“He's got to die.”

And I waited for him
with my service weapon.

- And what happened next?
- I...

I pointed my g*n at him.

Don't do it, Christina.

He's not worth it.

You've got nothing to do with this.
I'm sorry.

He turned and walked towards Jasper,
laughed and said he wouldn't dare.

And then Serge...

No further questions.

Thank you, Ms Flamant.

Prosecutor?

The prosecution requests
an adjournment, Your Honour.

But I'd like to stress one thing
for the members of the jury.

The fact that Ms Flamant
intended to sh**t Mr Lauwers

in no way affects
the guilt of the defendant.

The court will adjourn
until first thing tomorrow.

That could well be him.

With the stripes?

Don't take any risks, John.

No, it’s not him.

Those two?

No, they're collecting a child.

Hang on.

Excuse me, can I ask you something?

Damn it!

Sandra Mertens.
sentenced for dealing narcotics.

Conditionally.

And now caught
babysitting 200 grams of coke.

I had to park the stroller, that's all.

- Where?
- Under a tree.

And under which tree, Sandra?

- Who were you doing it for?
- I don't know.

- Do you know him?
- No.

- Do you know him?
- No.

Sandra, I don’t think you get it.
You were given a conditional sentence.

You were caught red-handed
with much more than “for personal use’.

You're going straight to jail.
You know that, right?

Yes, I know him.

- And how?
- What?

- How do you know him?
- He regularly orders all kinds of stuff.

Weed, coke... I delivered it, that’s all.

This is going to cost you money, eh?

You know that, right?

Okay, Govaerts deals on the side.

Something goes wrong.

It has to be something
serious enough to smash his head in.

- We have a motive.
- Well...

Maybe.

Well, we've got our work cut out
if we have to interview all those addicts.

It was an exam question, by the way.

- What?
- That weed is salad. Well, salad weed.

Pretty good that you knew that.

Oh yeah, how did your exam go?

Quite well, I think.

- Now just the committee to face...
- Yes.

- Then I'll be done.
- Cool, good.

- See you tomorrow.
- See you.

They often say about parents

that they want to live their failed dreams
through their children.

That wasn't the case with us.
Matthys could always do what he wanted.

Matthys was a clever guy.
Look, I've got a picture. Here.

Matthys.

He knew what he wanted.

I remember that my wife and I used to...
we're not together anymore.

We used to say to each other
“How happy are we, really?”

Happiness seems to be for others.

- He's here.
- Thanks for letting me talk to you.

Okay.

We've sorted the suspects
in the m*rder of Guard Ludo.

You're top of the list.

Do you want to know why?

Because you're the only one who lied.

Did you lie, Steven?

Ludo ransacking your cell
is no reason to shout what you shouted.

He sold me 5 grams of brown

and two minutes later the b*stard
came to get it back.

He sold it to someone
a second time, I’m sure of it.

- Who to, Steven?
- I don't know.

But I didn’t k*ll that filthy dealer.

And if you're as clever as they say,
you'll prove it.

You have to prove it.

I don't have to do anything.

Off you go.

Counsel.

Is this chair taken?

Take a Seat.

Thank you.

- What can I do for you?
- I know how you can get my son off.

- John, got your result yet?
- No, not yet.

I'll check.

- Not yet. Next week, I guess.
- Exciting.

Guard?

Morning.

Hey.

Hey.

- Good morning.
- Hey, good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning.

- You all right?
- Yeah.

And you?

Yes... fine.

You're not a morning person, John?

Saskia Vogels?

Yes.

That's good news. Yes.

They've found the m*rder weapon.

No, I’m still here.
Yes. Of course, we'll be right there.

Dennis De Laet, you're responsible
for the workshop? You check the tools...

Two days ago,
this hammer was taken from there.

- Impossible. I count all...
- You took it.

- To do what?
- To smash Ludo Govaerts’ skull.

- To do what?
- To smash Ludo Govaerts’ skull.

- I have nothing to do with that.
- We know you bought from him.

- What?
- What happened?

- No.
- Did he rip you off?

- Sell you bad sh*t?
- No, no, it's impossible.

I was sick two days ago.

Dierckx worked my shift.
Steven Dierckx.

Yeah. Steven Dierckx.

That’s rubbish.
Dennis is a junkie.

He sees bugs. He wouldn't know
who was in the workshop.

- Right, so not you?
- No, not me.

- You bought from him, too. You said...
- I didn’t k*ll him.

- Before or after the coffee...
- I have nothing to do with this.

- We think you do and we have time.
- You can go now.

That's all for now.

Professor...

Good luck.

Steven Dierckx is innocent.

Just so you know.

If we'd pushed him,
Dierckx would have confessed.

- The professor is right, he’s innocent.
- On the basis of what?

- A hunch.
- Damn it, why are you acting like this?

It's been going on all morning.
What's up?

You think Dierckx is innocent?

He clearly shouted
“I'll smash your head in.”

Why do you think he didn't do it?

Matthys was a clever guy.

Did Matthys get his drugs
from Guard Ludo?

Is that why you smashed his head in?

What makes you say that?

It says clearly in the file that Dierckx
shouted “You've smashed everything.”

It says clearly in the file that Dierckx
shouted “You've smashed everything.’

You can only know exactly what
someone said if you heard it yourself.

And you weren't back at work
until the day after.

The showers are close enough to hear
exactly what's shouted in the cell block.

I...

forced Matthys to tell me
where he got the drugs.

Then I had a chat with Govaerts.

He denied it, of course, the b*stard.

But he kept harassing my son
with his filth.

And it destroyed him.

- I'm sure about that.
- I'm not sure about that.

Oh, yes, he m*rder*d my son,
my only child.

- I had no choice, don't you get it?
- I do.

But you won't find absolution here.

This court is now in session.
Guilty!

This hearing is now closed.

- But you still have a choice, Professor.
- Hello, Jasper.

This court is now in session.

- Counsel?
- Thank you, Your Honour.

I call Adelinde van Marcke to the stand.

- Your Honour...
- It's not what we agreed.

- What is this?
- It's not what we agreed.

- I said my mum was not to speak.
- Sorry, I had no choice.

- What is this? Prosecutor!
- I protest.

Your Honour, I request
an urgent consultation with my lawyer.

Mr Teerlinck, I decide what happens
in this courtroom, not you.

- This is outrageous, Jasper.
- Call the witness.

Adelinde van Marcke.

Mrs van Marcke,
you are the mother of the defendant?

Yes.

Can you describe in detail
your son's 7th birthday.

Your Honour, relevance?

I will establish facts
that played an important part

in the motives of the defendant,
Your Honour.

Proceed.

Mrs van Marcke?

It was his birthday.

I'd been shopping
and had bought a cake.

Jasper's father
didn’t have to teach that afternoon.

When I came in,
I saw he'd been drinking.

Drinking heavily.

My husband had a drinking problem.

I got so angry.

I emptied every bottle I could find

into the sink.

He was furious.

He hit me and I fell to the floor.

He kept hitting me.

And kicking me.

We had a weapon.

A hunting r*fle.

And suddenly...

Jasper was standing there
holding the r*fle.

He shouted to his father to stop
or he would sh**t.

My husband...

He laughed at him and said...

- Go on, then, sh**t!
- sh**t me.

- Here, sh**t. Come on, sh**t.
- sh**t, then.

sh**t, boy, come on. sh**t.

- Did you load it?
- Is it loaded?

sh**t.

And then Jasper fired.

But the g*n wasn't loaded.

Thank you.

For your courageous testimony.

Your Honour, I would like
to request an adjournment.

Jasper, you're far too young for that.

But Dad, it's a boys’ book.

People who try to see morality in it
are banished.

People who try to find a plot in it
are summarily shot.

This book is about arrogance,
betrayal, jealousy, weakness...

Weakness.

Huckleberry Finn's father
was a brute and a drunk.

So I wasn’t allowed to read it.

I'd recognise you.

Weakness, yes.

I was a drunk, yes.

And after that, a brute.

The order is important.

Why are you here?

- Jasper...
- Yes, Dad?

You've been punished enough.

I did sh**t somebody.

You had no choice.
You heard Gijselbrecht, right?

Did you hear your son?
A person always has a choice.

- Is that so?
- Yes, it is.

You know who m*rder*d Govaerts.

Do you have the choice
to remain silent?

Can you maintain
that Stan Willems is innocent?

You have no choice, and you know it.

I think my work here is done.

I'll leave you alone now.

I'm proud of you.

I need to make an urgent call.

John van Humbeeck.

Mr Willems?

Stan?

Have you reviewed the testimony
from the defendant's mother, Doctor?

- I have.
- What conclusion can you draw?

That's not at all difficult.
Little Jasper was severely traumatised.

He was unable to protect his mother
from an alcoholic and aggressive father

and he's felt guilty about that
ever since.

So guilty that it made him
do what he has done?

Absolutely, and his relationship with
Ms Flamant plays an important part, too.

She’s the only woman,
apart from his mother, of course,

that he really cares about.

And she was also endangered?

Yes, she'd ruin her life
by k*lling her boyfriend.

Yes, yes, Ms Flamant
confirmed as much herself.

But I’m not entirely convinced.

Weren't there options
other than sh**ting Serge Lauwers?

No, not really.
When we relive a severe trauma.

the process of logical thought stops

and we are overwhelmed
by a force that is inescapable.

So my client was incapable of saying
to himself “Stop, this is wrong”?

Correct.

Quiet, please.

I know it sounds strange

and people have great difficulty
In grasping analyses like this,

but I'll try to make it clear by analogy.

A man stands in front of a burning house.
inside is his child, his own blood.

The man knows
that if he enters the house,

there's a good chance he won't survive.

Now...

do you think that the man
really has a choice?

Do you still want to get on a plane
to the Bahamas?

It's the Maldives.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,
you have heard all the evidence,

the public prosecutor's requisition
and the defence's summation.

The law dictates
that the defendant has the final word.

Mr Teerlinck...

He who did it, did it.

Who did it?

He who did it.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

the judge will instruct you
not to address the question of guilt, alas,

but instead to consider
whether I acted out of compulsion

in the sense of Article 71
of the Penal Code.

But I must ask you to answer “yes”
only if you are without any doubt,

any doubt whatsoever,
that that is the case,

for I am the one
who must live until his dying day

with the fact that I have deprived
somebody of his life.

Deprived.

Yes, John?

Yes, suicide.

I know that, Paul, but my god!

Yes, thanks.

No, I'll leave it on your desk.

Okay.

- Can we talk, please?
- Let me finish this.

Now, please?

We're not leaving this office
until I know what's wrong.

- A man hanged himself in the woods.
- Yes, I know.

I was there.

Damn it, John, that's not the issue.
I've had enough.

- What?
- I haven't done anything to you.

- What is it? It's not as if...
- Okay.

I tell you in confidence
I'm going for chief inspector.

- Oh, f*ck.
- You know I want to be team leader

and you say nothing.

You ask how my exam went
and you say nothing.

John, really...

Then I accidentally find out
you've done the same.

Congratulations, by the way.
You passed.

I know.

Thanks.

Yes, you're right. I should have told you
but I only just learned that I passed, too.

- I wanted to say, but...
- Saskia...

How can we do this?

- What?
- We work together but I can't trust you.

- Yes, you can.
- No.

But John, you...

God.

Christina, I was wrong.

Your second testimony
simply put matters in perspective.

- You think so?
- Of course.

I've written my letter of resignation.

I just need to check it,
put it in an envelope and post it.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,
have you reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honour.

To the question, did Jasper Teerlinck
act out of an irresistible urge

in the sense of Article 71,

what is your answer?

Yes.

Mr Teerlinck,
you are a free man.

- Ms Dietrich?
- Yes?

Fancy a coffee?

Mr van Cleemput, I don’t go out for less
than dinner and an awful lot of wine.

And I have expensive tastes.

But I can make tomorrow at 8.

I see that your mother
has been given a place...

in our Sistine Chapel.

- Do you mind?
- No.

It's where she belongs,
among everything beautiful and good.

I'll miss you.

- Let me know when...
- No, I won't get out.

I got life.

Thanks to you.

“We were quite different
but we belonged together.”

“We were more than the sum
of our two selves.”

“We were allies.”

“We made our own community...”

“and that is rare in life.”

Sandor Marai, Embers, 1942.