THE INTRUDER
I'ma doctor.. I see people die.
Life stops, that's it.
But sometimes, I feel a draught,
a br.eath ofair.passing thr.ough a r.oom like the evening wind.
Are the dead really dead?.
It was his fault. He was going too fast. He tried to overtake me.
There was nothing I could do. - Johan.
There was nothing I could do. - It's OK. Stay here.
The driver is trapped.
Wait. The tanker can catch fire at any moment. The fire brigade is on its way.
What d'you think?. - We can't wait for them.
Neck collar.
Tourniquet.
Your overtime.
I've alreadyfilled it in. - Thanks.
I'm going to go and see howthe driver is.
Fine. Give me a ring. I'm off.
No time for a drink?. - No, my daughter's waiting for me.
I can phone her. I'm sure she won't mind.
Don't make ittoo personal. - It is personal.
A risk Iike today, I'd onlytake that with you.
Well, can't blame a girl fortrying. - See you tomorrow.
Little monkey.
Howmanytimes have I told you?. - Sorry.
Did you miss me?.
Liar.
I missed you.
Come on, brush yourteeth and get in your bed.
Your dinner's in the microwave. - You're an angel.
1 8 MONTHS LATER
Tom?.
Tom.
He's been waiting for 15 minutes already.
AII by himself.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name...
Frankie. Staythere, mate.
Don'tworry. I'II help you.
Butfirst, you're going to help me. Take a Iook.
Hey, take a Iook. Look and Iisten.
I'm Iooking for people who may have seen her.
Have been for 18 months.
I've checked all the places where she could've been. But...
Now I see thatyou Iived above a night shop for a while.
That's an address that's on my Iist.
So you may have seen her.
Maybe you can give me a Iead, a clue.
1 8 months is a Iong time.
Well?. - Bastard.
Are you gonna help me?.
Have you seen her?.
Let go ofhim, Tom. - Stay out ofit.
Don't touch me, Tom.
Don'ttouch me, please.
Tom.
You can't saywe haven't been patient or sympathetic.
Nor can you saywe didn'twarn you. - I don't need a Iecture, Mike.
You want me to be straightwith you?.
We're all sick and tired ofhearing aboutyour daughter.
It's driving your department crazy.
You're suspended for six months. Go and see a shrink.
And, ifthe medical board agrees, you may getyourjob back afterwards.
Here you are. - Thanks.
Excuse me.
Are you waiting for someone?. - No.
Can I sit down?.
Would you Iike a drink?. - No.
I can take you home, ifyou Iike. I've got a car.
It's not necessary.
Have you got somewhere to sleep?. - I'II be okay.
Have you run away from home?.
That's my daughter.
Look. That's my phone number.
Wait a minute. Ifyou don't believe me.
Look.
Do you knowher?.
Have you seen her somewhere?.
Where?.
I can't remember. - Howwas she?.
I'm asking you a question! Where?.
Hey, calm down! - Sorry.
I'm sorry. Forgive me.
Sit down.
I'm sorry.
Agreed?. And you can tell me more tomorrow.
What's your name?.
Good morning.
What is this about?.
Are you alone?.
No.
Can my colleague take a Iook round?.
Yes.
You don't knowwho she is?.
So what's she doing here?.
I found her.
Justfound her. In a bar.
In a bar bythe station?.
54 to control.
Nextto the bed we find her clothes, including her knickers and her bra.
We find the minor halfnaked.
The man in question, MrVansant, states he'd fallen asleep nextto her.
He smelled ofalcohol. BIoody hell!
You don't expect me to be able to help you, do you?.
I've got to write a report and Iockyou up for 24 hours.
As Iong as she doesn't make a statement and tell us her name,
you'II be kept here for possible sexual assault of a minor.
She sawmy daughter, Wes. - Tom!
When we were at school, your marks were twice as high as mine.
Nowis the time to use that intelligence.
Can I talk to her?. - No, of course you can't!
Once you knowwho she is, her name will be in the report and I'II find her.
Tom.
Did you touch her?.
BRUSSELS POLICE UNKNOWN
Charlotte.
My Iittle girl.
You're alive.
I've missed you so much!
We'II forgetthe past.
Yes, Mum.
Her name is Charlotte FIorent. She's 15 1/2.
She Iives in Bergmont, a village in the Ardennes.
Herfather is a vet and she has a 17-year-old brother.
In the Ardennes?. She speaks better FIemish than you do.
And better French than you. So?.
What else do you know?. What aren'tyou telling me?.
Nothing. That's everything. Over and out. Christ!
I'm innocent, remember?.
I onlywant to talk to her, that's all.
I can find outvia Child Focus or the Internet. I'II find her anyway.
Don't mess me around. What else do you know?.
She was missing for 1 8 months.
What did you say?. 1 8 months?.
She disappeared on 1 0th May. - 1 0th May?.
Where has she been all this time?. - She doesn't want to talk about it.
Tom?.
Tom.
That may not mean anything. - Says who?.
She disappears on 1 0th May. My daughter disappears two weeks Iater.
And when she sees a photo of Louise, she says she sawher.
She was Iooking for a place to sleep. Of course she said that.
Listen. Listen very carefully to what I'm going to say.
She'II receive therapy and then there'II be an investigation Iocally.
Sooner or Iater, she'II talk about those 1 8 months. Just be patient.
I want to knowwhat happened to my daughter and she knows something.
Wait forthe investigation. - You can't stop me!
For God's sake, Tom. - She holds the key, damn you!
Empty?.
I told you.
They'II rip you offwheneverthey can.
Good morning to you, too.
You must have a good reason for burying yourselfhere.
Mywife Ieft me.
You won'tfind another one here.
Go and read the names on the graves in the graveyard.
There's the Cassimons, the Dunewolts, the FIorents and the Philipses.
Fourfamilies. The women divide everything amongst themselves
to keep the Iand and the moneytogether.
And the animals can talk too, I suppose?.
Thatwouldn't surprise me one bit, mate.
Hello. - Hello.
Have you forgotten my order?. - That boy'II be the death ofme!
Freddy. Freddy?.
Yesterday he forgot Josiane's tights and today your chocolates.
Tuesday?. - Fine.
Howmuch do I owe you?. - Eighteen.
Bye, Gaby.
That's for Henri. - Forwho?.
You arrived at the campsite yesterday at 6, didn'tyou?.
You rented Cassimon's caravan. - Yes.
That's for Henri. Will you take him his groceries?.
Are you on holiday?. - Yes.
Here you are. Thanks.
Freddy, don't tease them.
The FIorents?. What do you want to know about them?.
Well, their address. Where they Iive.
Is it for someone from the family?. - I'm Iooking for a vet.
I'm thinking ofbringing my dog with me. - Oh, you're the guyfrom the campsite.
Now I knowwhyyou bought a bottle of gas from Victor.
Hello, gentlemen. - Hello.
Howare you, Freddy?. Here you are.
That's the guyfrom the campsite. He's FIemish.
Right. Another one who's come to seek his fortune here.
Roland Dunewolt, forest ranger. - Hello.
Matthieu, this round's on me.
He's Iooking forthe FIorents.
The FIorents?.
I thought I sawyou there fifteen minutes ago.
In the courtyard.
That's possible.
Butthere's no sign that says there's a vet there.
Nowthat's true. I've told him he should put up a nameplate.
May I?. - Be my guest.
I'd better do my duty, first.
As a forest ranger, I'm responsible foryour safety.
There's the programme forthe rest ofthe hunting season.
It says where and when there's any hunting and where to avoid.
You don't need to Iearn it offby heart. It's simple.
Keep to the paths. Don't get in anyone's way.
Accidents happen fasterthan you think.
No, thankyou. - A small aperitifwon't hurt.
Enjoyyour stay.
Don'tyou Iike it?.
Do you want something else?.
Tell me whatyou would Iike, I'II make it foryou.
Arlette!
Have you mended her moped?. Can she use it now?.
Eat something.
Last seen by Dunewolt Roland, forest ranger.
The witness saw Charlotte FIorent at the Esso petrol station,
getting into a dark-coloured Volvo estate.
Dark-coloured.
No other details.
Nice animal, Omer.
Help us, Paul.
Nowwe'II take that out.
Give me the guns.
Hold these, Paul.
Ready?.
Congratulations. - Thankyou.
Congratulations.
There's someone there.
Thanks. Bye.
Bye.
You can wash your hands inside.
Bye. Thanks. - Bye.
Hi, I'm Tom. - Erika.
Dunewolt, Philips, FIorent, Cassimon?. - No, no, I'm notfrom round here.
Do you Iike it atthe campsite?.
Everyone knows everything in this village.
When someone hides himselfaway we assume he has a reason.
Would you Iike some soup?. - Soup?. Yes, please.
Do I Iook as ifI've got a reason for hiding myselfaway?.
I don't know.
I quit myjob. Too many problems.
AIways on the road. Lots of stress. I hope to get some peace and quiet here.
And there's only me, so...
What aboutyou?. Do you do this all byyourself?.
Since my husband died three years ago, yes.
Sorryto hearthat.
Children?.
No. What aboutyou?. - I've got a daughter.
She's with her mother?.
She's...
Yes.
Sorry. Forgive me.
I've gotto go and collect some customers from the other end.
Otherwise theywon't get back. I have to turn the trolleys round.
There's only one track. 4 km there, turn the trolley, 4 km back.
Can I askyou something?. Could you...
I'd rather not take you back.
Too many eyes watching?.
You don't knowhow scared I was. I thoughtyou weren't coming back.
I'm a bit Iate, that's all. - It doesn't matter. It doesn't.
I really don't mean to keep tabs on you. - Yeah, yeah.
He sawthe baptism of a hunter and got the fright ofhis Iife.
When you shootyourfirst animal, they rub its blood overyou as a reward.
It's tradition here.
Have some more. The place is awash with snails.
Eh, darling?.
No, thanks.
A sales rep who doesn't drink?.
Everyone has their own storyto tell.
What's your story?.
Night porter in a hotel near Brussels North railway station for 30 years.
You had to be deaf, dumb and blind. Don't ask.
Do you find anything with that?. - Anything?. Everything.
You'd never believe what these tourists Ieave behind.
Wait a minute. Watch out, darling.
She's not as mobile as she was since her stroke.
Apart from that, she's as healthy as anything.
When did it happen?.
Two years ago.
I didn't knowyou could swear and pray at the same time.
And then we said we were going to make the most oflife. Sod everyone.
Look.
Thatwas the first thing. A Pontiac watch.
And here, a wedding ring.
Jos and Rita.
He probablywasn'twith Rita when he Iostthat.
Afewfrancs, some euros. Even some cartridge cases.
They shoot at Iarge game with these. 7 64 calibre.
Fatal at 600 metres.
The blood thinner is all she has to take.
It's 4 mg.
No, 1 mg.
No, it's Sintrom 4 mg.
It's probably a mistake. Too much can cause a haemorrhage.
Right, I'm off. Thatwas delicious and I've had a nice time.
Thanks. Ifyou Iike I'II take it with me and change it at the pharmacy.
Charlotte?.
Are you asleep?.
I justwanted to hold you.
I can't sleep.
I have nightmares and dream that they come and getyou.
Charlotte...
Sweet dreams, darling.
Charlotte, this is Mr De Koster.
He's a psychotraumatologist with the police.
He works in the Missing Persons department. Don'tyou?.
He'd Iike to talk to you.
I'II Ieave you now. I'II come back and getyou Iater.
Isn't that strange?.
I tell great big Iies and you don't react.
I've heard things aboutyou, Charlotte.
You wouldn't give your name because you didn'twant to come home.
And not a single word aboutthose 18 months.
It's not easy, is it?. Keeping quiet about one and a halfyears ofyour Iife.
A secret Iike that has a Iife ofits own. It grows.
Itwants to get out.
And you're probably scared stiffthat, sooner or Iater, you'II tell someone.
I couldn't care Iess about that. Apart from one thing.
I want to hear everything that has anything to do with my daughter.
I won't go away. I'II be everywhere you Iook. Even in your dreams.
I've never seen your daughter. - Not true. You did see her.
I needed somewhere to sleep.
Damn you, you did see her! You recognised her!
Right, I recognised her. I nodded at her photo, that's all.
You should've seen yourself.
I even got given her clothes. Who knows what else I could've asked for.
So you haven't seen her?. - No.
I'm sorry, OK?.
Is that it?.
Then I'm off.
Wait, Charlotte. - Leave me alone.
Or I'II sayyou're assaulting me.
Theywanted me to saythat Iast time. They believe anything I say.
You can be sure ofthat, Mr Psychotraumatologist.
Charlotte.
Her marks don't mean much. She's two years behind for her age.
Has she talked about her past?. - No, she's newhere.
She didn'twantto go back to her old school.
She's also very shy. She doesn't have much contactwith the others.
Is she seeing a psychologist?. - Her parents don'tthink it's necessary.
They have an agreement with the police that she won't be questioned anymore.
An investigation with no questions?. - But there is no investigation.
What did you say?. - She's back. What's there to investigate?.
That's not possible.
Are you OK?. - Yes, I'm fine.
I'II be in touch. Thankyou. - Goodbye.
I need new clothes. - Butyou chose those yourself.
I don't Iike them anymore.
And this time I'm going on my own.
Don'tworry. I'II come back. - OK.
Howmuch do you need?. - I'II take your card with me.
You just have to give me your code.
Let me hold you for a moment.
That's enough.
Mum.
Anything else?.
That's 14.80 euro.
I've changed my mind.
Give me a box of chocolates, please.
There you are. So you will be staying for a while, then?.
And a pack ofwater and six Iitres ofmilk.
Freddy, go and get a pack ofwater.
A friendly Iad, your son. - Freddy's my nephew.
His parents are dead. Everyone has a cross to bear, eh?.
Yes.
Don't stand there. That's just what she wants.
Can you pass the salt, Dad?.
Thanks.
These are foryou.
I'm sorryto saythis, butyou Iie easily, don'tyou?.
Pardon?.
You're a doctor.
Who says so?. - Roland Dunewolt.
You're here about Charlotte.
I'm the one who found her. - Butthat's not all.
I don't have to stand here and defend myself, do I?.
Does it have to do with your daughter?.
My daughter disappeared around the same time as Charlotte.
What's her name?. - Louise.
Louise.
Did they know each other?. - No.
So what are you doing here?.
Some people have arrived. - Right.
Did you enjoyyourselves?. Itwasn't hard work?. Bye.
What a beautiful Iittle girl!
Sorry, but I can't see the connection with Charlotte.
Do you knowhowmany children run awayfrom home everyyear?. 1 200.
1 200 children disappear. And they don't come back.
Some do. But most ofthem...
Each year more disappear. They become shadows.
An army of shadows wandering around.
Then I find Charlotte. I was meant to find her, see?.
That's the connection with my daughter.
Itwas meant to be. I'm convinced my daughter's spirit...
She's guiding me. She sent me here. She knows I'II find the solution here.
There's something here. I can't see ityet, but it's here.
She's dead, isn't she?. Your daughter.
Howlong?.
A month after she ran away.
She jumped out ofa window.
Why?.
I don't know.
I can't accept it. As Iong as I don't knowwhy, I won't accept it.
I can't accept it.
Not without a reason.
You didn't notice anything before then?. Didn't ask anything?.
Why not?.
She was 14. Still a child.
You don'twant them to get bigger, to growup.
You want them to stay children forthe rest oftheir Iives.
Even though you realise
that she's probably not so innocent anymore,
butyou don'twantto know.
One day, I walked into her room and she'd gone.
DAD
DAD, I'M REALLY SORRY. I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH. L.
She must have confided in someone.
With difficulty I discovered 4 addresses where she stayed.
39 people who spoke to her and 1 05 who sawher.
But she didn't Ieave anything behind, not a message, nothing.
And then I find Charlotte. Is that a coincidence?.
There's something seriouslywrong with that child. Isn'tthat obvious?.
Howcome she speaks FIemish?.
There's a connection, there must be.
Good morning.
Nice to see you again.
Am I trespassing?. - No, not at all.
You've chosen a great spotto... Howshall I put it?.
Observe the wildlife.
Holiday going well?. - It's a beautiful area.
Are you a nature Iover?.
2800 hectares, more than 1 00 wild boars.
And 80 deer.
Have you got some time to spare?. - Yes.
Come with me.
Nature writes the Iaws here.
Civilisation is oflittle consequence here.
One wrong step...
... and you're dead.
That is some message about nature.
I have a call ofnature to answer. It's rather urgent.
Now I come to think ofit, Mr Dunewolt,
As forest rangeryou're a bit Iike a policeman, aren'tyou?.
An enforcer ofthe Iaw.
So itwas probably easyforyou to find out who I am via my car number plate.
Wasn't it?.
I can reportyou for coming after Charlotte, doctor.
We find the minor halfnaked.
The person in question, MrVansant, states that he'd fallen asleep.
He smelled of alcohol.
I watched Charlotte growup. I've been a friend ofthe familyforyears.
They've just been through a terrible time.
Ifyou've come to upset them,
you'II have me to deal with.
You were the Iast person to see her.
You sawher get in thatVolvo.
Do you know what they Iearn in the police?.
Nevertrust the Iast person to have seen someone.
Go back to the city, doctor.
It's safer.
Explain to me... - I'II do what I Iike.
I'II cut myselfifl want to. It's my body, it's mine.
Tell me what I have to do. I'II help you.
I protectyou from the police, the doctors. Everyone who bothers you.
No, everyone who bothers you.
I'm not scared. I don't shut myselfup. I'm not afraid ofmy own shadow.
D'you want me to tell them the truth?. AII those hypocrites in the village.
Is that whatyou want?. Is it?. Because I'II do it.
Don't do it. - I will do it.
Don't do it.
What did you think?.
The rent is Iowhere.
Whatwas so urgent?. - I was just making some tea. Come in.
Did you take all these?.
Those?. Yes. It's a hobbythat got out ofhand.
I sell them for a few euros each.
As a souvenir.
Did you take those too?. - Yes.
They're great. - Thanks.
The village as seen by an outsider.