Chapter 10 (Lupin)

Chapter 10 is the fifth episode of the second part of the Netflix series Lupin, and the tenth episode overall.

Synopsis
In a scheme to usurp all schemes, Assane and Benjamin recruit and disguise a clever accomplice in order to bring Hubert to justice.

1995


Babakar waits in the hallway of the Pellegrinis' mansion with two other men who are also set to be interviewed by Hubert for the post of chauffeur and housekeeper. When Babakar is called in, Hubert hires him almost immediately. After Babakar thanks him and leaves, Hubert brushes perceived dirt off of his suit. One day, Assane visits Babakar at the Pellegrinis’ house, and marvels at its opulence. Babakar gives Assane a camera as a present, and the two take a photograph together.

Present day
Three weeks prior to the concert at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Assane flies a drone into Hubert's study. Benjamin, monitoring the footage from the safety of his shop, finds the name “Lucas Lacroix” among those in a list on Hubert’s desk. Lacroix is the stockbroker in charge of monitoring Hubert’s investments; as such, he has access to Hubert’s usernames, bank accounts, passwords and more. Lacroix keeps all of his data in his briefcase, so one day, as Lacroix is on his way to work in the Parisian business district, Benjamin pretends to be a robber, knocks him down, and steals it while Assane gives chase. After the two have collected the data from Lacroix’ briefcase, Assane returns it to the hapless broker.



Assane and Benjamin visit a library with a view to finding a third accomplice. Eventually, they locate their ideal candidate: a young man with ripped pants, piercings, dyed hair and eyeliner who attempts to steal an Arsène Lupin book, and who realizes that Assane and Benjamin are watching him. After the man agrees to work with them, Assane and Benjamin cut his hair, remove his makeup and rings, give him a respectable suit to wear, and style him as financial adviser Philippe Courbet, the surname taken from an artist who had painted the cliffs of Étretat. As payment, they give him one of the diamonds from the necklace, and promise him another after they have finished carrying out all of their plans. Assane calls Lucas Lacroix and tells him that a disreputable new broker named Courbet has begun approaching his clients. Lacroix reports this information to Hubert, who is intrigued and requests a meeting with Philippe immediately afterward. Hubert is impressed with Philippe’s wily self-assurance and emphasis on making Hubert richer, and immediately takes him on.

On the day of the concert, Philippe and Pascal stand outside the Théâtre du Châtelet, watching workmen (one of whom is Benjamin in disguise) bringing crates of computer equipment (one of which contains Assane) inside. Philippe tells Pascal that the equipment will speed up the donation process. Pascal leaves him to it and discusses the logistics of the concert with Dumont, informing him that all guests will be searched. Dumont, suspicious that Assane will show up, urges Pascal to remain vigilant. Later, Dumont sees Philippe and the disguised Benjamin bringing the crates in, and asks what is inside them. Philippe tells Dumont about the computers, but Dumont is suspicious, noting that they seem very large for modern equipment. He opens one of the crates up to check, but finds only electronics. Philippe offers to let him open another, but Dumont ultimately allows him and Benjamin to continue on their way.

At the police station, Belkacem recieves new evidence from the lab regarding Léonard’s murder. It transpires that the killer left a footprint on Leonard’s coat; the shoe that made the mark was a size 42, while Assane is a 46, suggesting that he was not the culprit. Guédira then shows her Assane's video of Dumont admitting to his own corruption. Laugier walks by and asks them what is going on; Guedira plays him the footage as well.



The three officers gather together in the interrogation room, where Guédira tells them that Léonard was in prison with Babakar, Léonard for attempted murder and Babakar for the necklace theft, a case which Dumont had been in charge of. Additionally, Guédira points out that Dumont would not let Laugier and Belkacem question Léonard after his more recent arrest. Belkacem remembers that Dumont threw Guédira off of the case of the Queen's Necklace, and suggests that this was because he was getting close to uncovering the truth; Guédira agrees. Alarmed by the actions of their commissioner, the three resolve to arrest him at the Pellegrinis’ concert.

That night, from a vantage point at the top of the Théâtre du Châtelet, Assane, Benjamin and Philippe observe the guests entering. Benjamin points out where Hubert and Juliette will be sitting, while Philippe tells Assane that his computer is prepared to transfer the donations to Hubert’s bank account. Slightly nervous, Assane leaves.

As Juliette prepares for the show in her dressing room, Hubert tells her that she looks beautiful and that he is proud of her. Meanwhile, Laugier, Belkacem and Guédira gain access to the concert hall after flashing their police badges. In the audience, Dumont looks around him nervously. The concert begins and Juliette walks onstage to introduce the event, encouraging the audience to donate to her foundation using a newly-created app. On his computer, Philippe sees the money begin pouring in while Hubert watches the proceedings greedily from the balcony.



As Hubert relaxes and begins to enjoy the music, Assane enters his private box, grabs him and holds a knife to his throat, telling him that he wants the truth. Hubert tries to escape, but Assane merely tightens his grip, suggests that he will kill Hubert if he doesn’t talk, and asks him about Fabienne’s death. Although Hubert initially claims that Fabienne committed suicide, he eventually confesses to having ordered Léonard to kill her. Assane then accuses Hubert of instructing Léonard to kidnap Raoul; Hubert claims that he never intended for Raoul to be hurt. After some struggle, Hubert admits that he did, however, want Assane dead. When Assane demands to know the identity of Léonard's murderer, Hubert gives up Pascal’s name.

Assane moves on to questions about his father. Hubert gives a full confession, stating that he hired Babakar with the express purpose of framing him for stealing the Queen's Necklace in order to collect the insurance money. He tells Assane that he sent Léonard to kill Babakar in prison, out of worry that Babakar would fight his sentencing. Assane is utterly furious and struggles to keep himself from slitting Hubert’s throat. Despite being under extreme duress, Hubert defiantly states that nobody will believe Assane’s story. At that point, Assane loosens his grip and leaves. Unbeknownst to Hubert, Assane has been recording the entire exchange on an electronic watch.

Assane dashes out of Hubert’s box, while Hubert spreads the word that he has breached security. A lengthy chase ensures. Dumont recieves a text from Pascal letting him know that Assane is inside the building, and leaves the main concert hall to order an emergency response team into the theater. Laugier notes Dumont’s departure; he, Belkacem and Guédira exit as well. Assane, meanwhile, encounters Pascal in a dressing room, and the two men begin a brutal fight. Assane finally gains the upper hand, knocking Pascal out and leaving him in a darkroom.



As Assane heads for the stage, he is stopped by Dumont, who threatens to shoot him. However, Dumont is surprised from behind by Laugier, Belkacem and Géedira, also carrying firearms. Laugier reveals that they know everything Dumont has done, and handcuffs him. Assane attempts to leave, but Belkacem points her gun at him and orders him not to move; Guédira, however, encourages her to temporarily let him go. Assane walks away, gratified, as Laugier tells a horrified Dumont that he is under arrest for corruption and influence-peddling.

The show ends, and as the last strains of music fade away, Philippe projects the photograph that Assane and Babakar had taken together in 1995 onto the screen behind the musicians. Assane himself walks out onto the stage, to the shock of the audience. After briefly apologizing to Juliette, Assane tells everyone that Babakar never stole Marie-Antoinette’s necklace, that Hubert falsely accused him of the crime, that he ordered both Babakar and Fabienne to be killed, and that he had Raoul kidnapped. Finally, Assane reveals to Juliette that Hubert has stolen money from her foundation. As Dumont’s special forces storm the theater, Benjamin cuts all the lights.

In the dark, horrified audience members begin scrambling for the exits. Benjamin and Philippe discreetly leave with them, and dash into a yellow Fiat 500, where Benjamin gives Philippe the last diamond from the necklace and reveals that all the money Hubert stole will actually go to Juliette’s foundation after all. Philippe grins, and Benjamin starts the car, assuring Philippe that Assane will be able to escape on his own. The two drive away together.



Assane exits the theater sporting a heavy beard, dreadlocks and a fireman’s outfit. He tells several police officers that Assane Diop is on the roof; the police believe him, and he manages to leave the building without being harassed. Guédira, meanwhile, is shocked when he receives a text message from Assane featuring a recording of Hubert’s full confession. Using it as evidence, the police are able to arrest Hubert and Dumont together.

As he removes his false beard and wig and throws them away, Assane is spotted by a group of officers who begin chasing him. He runs across the Pont Neuf, jumps down to the riverbank, hops on a motorboat, and manages to start it before the officers can catch up. Speeding upstream towards the Canal Saint-Martin, Assane smiles to himself as he sees that it is 9:30 PM.



Claire is helping Raoul study for his history class when they suddenly begin to hear a series of high-pitched beeps. The two search their apartment, and figure out that the sound is coming from Claire’s room. Under her bed, Claire finds the electronic watch that Assane had left when he broke in to steal her bracelet several days earlier. She gives it to Raoul, who presses a button to reveal the message “Raoul’s bridge, 10:00.” Raoul is confused and asks what this means. Claire reveals that it refers to the bridge where she and Assane had chosen Raoul’s name in 2006. Raoul is enthusiastic, and states that they should go, but Claire tells him that it is out of the question. Raoul defiantly asserts that he will go with or without her permission, and Claire reluctantly agrees to accompany him.

They reach the bridge at 10:00, and look around, but there is no sign of Assane. Suddenly they hear a boat’s motor behind them. Turning around, they see Assane sailing towards them, beaming and waving. Assane parks the boat and walks towards his family in the middle of the bridge. Raoul runs to Assane and embraces him; Claire joins the hug as well, albeit more slowly. Smiling in a wistful manner, Assane tells them that he is glad that both of them came.



Claire asks Assane if he is finished with everything, and Assane responds that he is, but that Claire was right, and that he is causing them too many problems. With tears in her eyes, Claire replies that she doesn’t care, but Assane states that he has to go away to ensure their safety. Claire begins to cry, telling Assane that the only thing that matters is that she and Raoul don’t lose him, and buries her head in his chest. Assane holds both her and Raoul close to him and promises that he will return, telling them that although they will not see him, he will be watching over them. Claire implores Assane to take care of himself; he grins at her and reminds her to do the same.

After assuring Claire and Raoul that he loves them both, Assane looks at them affectionately and runs off of the bridge as police alarms grow louder and louder in the background. Claire and Raoul turn away briefly to see where the noises are coming from; when they look back, Assane is gone. A haphazard line of police officers dashes by, startling Claire. She and Raoul cling to each other as the officers chase Assane into the night.

Cast

 * Omar Sy as Assane Diop
 * Ludivine Sagnier as Claire Laurent
 * Clotilde Hesme as Juliette Pellegrini
 * Hervé Pierre as Hubert Pellegrini
 * Antoine Gouy as Benjamin Férel
 * Fargass Assandé as Babakar Diop
 * Soufiane Guerrab as Youssef Guédira
 * Vincent Londez as Romain Laugier
 * Shirine Boutella as Sofia Belkacem
 * Stefan Crepon as Philippe Courbet
 * Vincent Garanger as Gabriel Dumont
 * Adama Niane as Léonard Koné
 * Marie Barraud as Hélène Dumont


 * Nicolas Wanczycki as Pascal Oblet
 * Aloysia Delahunt as Pellegrini press agent
 * Franck Mercadal as Lucas Lacroix
 * Sarah Gélin as Céline Toural
 * Marion Creusvaux as Margaux
 * Christian Julien as Yaya
 * Guillaume Melanie as theater guard
 * Mathieu Lamboley as himself/conductor
 * Sieme Miladi as plainclothes police officer
 * Mustapha Benameur as plainclothes police officer 2
 * Mamadou Haïdara as young Assane Diop
 * Etan Simon as Raoul Diop

Music

 * original music by Mathieu Lamboley
 * "Symphonie No. 9 du Nouveau Monde" by Antonin Dvorak
 * "Gentleman Cambrioleur" by Jacques Dutronc
 * "Le Lien SCNF" by Michael Boumendil

Trivia

 * Mathieu Lamboley, the composer of the series' music, appears as himself conducting the orchestra.