Code 37 (2009) s01e09 Episode Script

How many more? - You don't know, guy.
Coffee anyone? Bob, coffee? - Yes.
A double for me.
Charles, coffee? Call Hannah.
This girl is thirteen or fourteen years old.
Like all the girls on all those DVDs.
Some are even younger.
However, this is one of them from here.
- And the others on the DVDs aren't? I think they were all Asian.
- Me, too.
I think this is Cindy Star, a Flemish child star.
Or someone who looks like her.
- No.
Look, look.
This is a picture on her website.
- Isn't she over 13? But that's obvious Cindy Star.
Yes, she's thirteen.
Cindy Star? - That's that: Whether you count to nine, whether you count to ten.
That is Yes, the Eurosong for Kids.
- You watch Eurosong for Kids? Guys.
After Eurovision, she's was a hit and then disappeared from the spotlight.
And according to her website she still performs.
Where were the DVDs found? - In a large derelict house.
One of the garbage men took them home and said: Tonight I'll watch Batman and it was child pornography.
The whole box full.
He brought them to the district office.
- And the house where it was found? Standing empty for years and the Intervention squad found nothing there.
Typical.
Someone who had this collection wanted to dispose of it without leaving a trace.
Fingerprints? - Yes, of the garbage men and some loose traces, but according to the lab isn't enough to identify anyone.
- Where was it filmed? A small space.
A room, basement Where the child lives? Ms.
Sylvie Lochten? Hannah Maes, Sexual Crime Unit.
Mr Degroof.
Is your daughter at home? In her room.
What's it about? - We'd like to show you something.
Turn that off.
Come, turn that off.
Is that your daughter? - Yes, that's Cindy.
Ma'am, would you please look again? It's probably a look-a-like or someone like your daughter Do you have children? - No.
Then you wouldn't ask such a thing.
You recognize your child anywhere.
Do you know where it was filmed? - No.
Cindy never told you about that Never.
Maybe she didn't dare.
Probably she was forced.
Yes, of course she was forced.
She'd never do it voluntarily.
Good.
Do you have a partner? Cindy's father disappeared when I was pregnant.
Are there other men with whom Cindy comes into contact? An uncle, neighbour? A teacher? - No, she has no uncles and the neighbours are all old people.
And she has a teacher.
- A teacher? She is 13.
Then she's still in middle school? Yes, she had to repeat the fifth.
Now she's in sixth grade.
And her singing career? How's that work? Does she have a manager? Yes, she has a manager.
Happy.
I can't imagine him doing that.
And what's the manager's name? - Frans Schots.
And you trust him? - Yes.
200%.
Do you think he had something to do with it? We don't know.
What do you think? No, that can't be.
Really, Frans took very good care of Cindy.
He'd never do that, no.
I'm expecting him for that matter.
She must rehearse soon.
Will you keep that from the press? You understand we have to investigate this? I want him found, but not if her career suffers.
That child is so happy with her performances.
Who are they? - From my work.
But they must go away now.
eh? - Yes.
We'll keep you informed.
- Okay.
Sir? Are you Frans Schots? Are you Cindy's manager? Yes, indeed.
You are? - Frans discovered Cindy.
He sees great future for her.
Last year she almost won "Belgium Has Talent", eh, Frans? - Yes.
Her next performance is in Blankenberge.
If Cindy has a new hit next summer, she'll be a success.
Come on.
You will take her now to rehearse? Tomorrow's performance is in Melle.
We have put together the playlist, and rehearse the dance steps? - And the high notes.
We have some bad news for you, I fear.
The rehearsal's been cancelled.
If that gets into the press Who does something like that anyway? What? Do you suspect me? I have wife and child.
I'm happily married for twenty years.
How is your relationship with Cindy? - I coach her.
I let her dance and take vocal lessons.
I control her rehearsals, performances.
I take care of sponsorship, publicity, the press.
You actually run her life? - Yes, that's my job.
But I have never touched her.
How do you explain that porn with Cindy? I can't.
- can't? No.
I can't believe it.
- How does Cindy see you anyway? As her manager or as a surrogate dad? Both, surely? It's not so abnormal She almost sees me as a father figure? I see her almost as my child.
I demand she does her best.
I say: A singing career can be over like that.
What? You don't believe me? Ask Cindy herself.
I heard you're so good.
You participated in Eurosong for Kids.
I got into the semi-finals, when I had the jury against me.
The jury against you? Yes, that other girl had a little more impact.
Okay.
Do you know why you're here? We'll ask a few questions.
Then you just answer.
Tell us something about your singing career.
I've been trying to break in for a few years.
My manager says I can be the new Belle Perez.
And is that what you want? - Yes, that's my big dream.
Performances, full houses and hit songs.
Do you have much free time? No, but you know.
I don't really miss that.
I just do what I love to do, sing.
Do you have many friends? A few at school.
And outside school? When you perform? Yes, in showbiz everyone's great, but Frans takes good care of me.
When you perform, where do you change clothes? I have my own Cindy Star mobile home.
All to myself and I go there an hour before I have to perform, I dress, do my make-up and then I warm-up my voice too.
Warm up your voice? - So Cappuccino, cappuccino, cappuccino That's a voice, huh? - And then even higher.
From her behaviour, we can't conclude she was abused.
Have you told her why you're investigating? No.
If we interview a minor, we ask no names, no facts.
We ask no leading questions.
What happens now? - We'll continue to investigate.
There is a reason why she is silent.
Either she's afraid or she represses it.
With the right psychiatric guidance, we'll find out.
You're not going to stick my child in the loony bin, huh? And her performances? - I'll leave that to you.
But I advise you to keep her home so long as the investigation lasts.
I'm a working woman, and a single mother.
Because of Cindy's singing, we've had difficulties making ends meet and now, thanks to her talent, it's going better.
She can even buy some cool clothes and she is popular at school.
If she were to stop, that would be all gone.
To send her to a child psychiatrist - Madam, I understand your reaction, but we're investigating this matter for your daughter's sake.
Yes? I phoned the solicitor.
She'll be there tomorrow at 9:00 to the Trust Center for Child Abuse.
The address.
And they'll investigate if your daughter is still a virgin or not.
Will it last long? Because she's need to perform at 11:00 at the market place in Melle.
I can't cancel that anymore.
Now may I rehearse? At nine o'clock, then? - Yes, they'll expect you.
I hope you're wrong.
Me too.
And you have many friends? A few at school.
And outside school? When you are going to perform? Yes, in showbiz everyone's great, but Frans takes good care of me.
- No stupid kid, huh? And precocious.
Not one quick to ask for help.
And a mother who's so naive to think her child will make it.
Perfect victim of a pedo.
- You mean Scots? Who else? I've found nothing in his past.
Always in order with child labour inspections.
Formerly he was manager of several quite successful Flemish artists.
No criminal record, nothing.
He had the child stars under contract? I'll have to check.
Found something already? Jos Vermaercke.
Does that name mean anything? No.
Who is he? A detective now retired.
He led the investigation 8 years ago of the robbery at your home.
Can I have a minute? Jos Vermaercke.
With 'Ae'? Yes, and 'ck'.
He now lives on the Costa del Sol.
- The Costa del Sol? But I called him.
- And? He said the investigation was stopped at that time because the complaint against the unknown persons was withdrawn.
But a crime was committed.
There's always a prosecution? Legally and technically you are right, but when the right person hints the investigation shouldn't continue And the right person, who is that? - Judge Robert Maes.
My father? That Sorry, but that can't be.
Vermaercke was officious.
Good, I've done what you asked for, sought further.
How about something in return, I think.
How about dinner? The Warehouse? Eight hours? Or anywhere else, it doesn't matter.
Food you can get anywhere.
Buy yourself some french fries.
The angry neighbour.
- Not really, you know.
I've come with my excuses For that last meal.
It was very nice.
And good? - And delicious.
And then what happened, yes.
Sorry about that.
If you don't want to make love, just say.
You'll leave it there or what? For now Here.
Alright.
Nice.
You usually don't come just for wine.
What is it? Are you tired? - A little worn out, yes.
It's that or sex, huh.
- I still want to work a bit more.
Come on, to good friends.
That's established, huh.
- To good neighbours.
Good too.
A few years ago, Schots had a kid star under contract.
- Was it a girl? Yes.
Evelyn Landers.
- Ah, right.
Lisa Lynn.
That was her stage name.
- You remember her or what? I'm starting to question your musical tastes.
Call her at once for an interview.
- She works during the day, but I did get her address.
- We will go there soon, we must first go to the performance in Melle.
Yes, that performance.
You go to talk with Cindy's teacher.
Find out how she is at school.
- But No.
- If You believe now - No.
What? Voilà, there she is, see.
Everything went well, huh? Go and take a look.
I'll go get a Diet Coke.
Voilà, see.
Hannah Maes, Sexual Crime Unit.
- What's the problem? Come.
Come.
Come, come.
- Are you? What is happening? Come on.
- I'm arresting you on suspicion of child abuse.
- That's a misunderstanding.
He hand his hands on Cindy.
- To take my measurements.
Mr.
Deconinck's the events organizer.
He arranges performances for us and he is on the verge of signing a sponsorship agreement with a chain of children's clothing stores.
Can you take her measurements without touching her? Swa Deconinck has an event-agency and he organizes regular concerts, yes.
Yes, I called the manager of that children's clothes store chain.
They are about to sponsor Cindy Star through Swa Deconinck.
Don't I get an apology, right? Ah well? Come on, Cindy.
Sit down.
Tell me more, listen, Miss.
Cindy had to repeat the fifth grade when she was a hit.
She had many performances and therefore missed many classes.
And how does she behave at school? Quiet.
Yes, it's fine.
When she performs evenings, she's tired the next day, but she does her best.
That will do, with such a nice teacher.
And how would you describe her? For example, as a substitute teacher? Yes, intelligent.
Yes, even a little too wise for her age.
Yes? - Yes.
But for the rest, she's an ordinary child.
There is nothing to criticize.
I must say, Miss - Marijke.
Marijke, we really appreciate you coming as soon as you did A coffee? Kevin, get two more coffees.
Sure, Bob.
- More than welcome.
I am glad the police finally take that collage seriously.
Collage? - From a few months ago? Isn't that why I'm here? We weren't aware.
- Ah.
Yes, no After the summer vacation I did a class project on parents in art class and they had to make a collage of their parents with photos from newspapers and magazines.
Cindy never knew her father.
- Yet here's her collage.
Of a naked man in a bathroom.
He had no head, but large genitals.
Like Priapus the fertility god.
- Fertility? Yes, he's so tall with a giant But I think that part of the collage came from the Internet.
And what did you - How did you react? I spoke with Cindy, but she didn't want to say anything about it.
Then I pointed it out to the director.
She referred it to the police and they took the collage.
At the police station? Good afternoon.
Have you booked? Charles Ruiters, Sexual Crime Unit.
Superintendent Maes.
Evelyn Landers? - Yes.
May we ask a couple of questions? - Yeah, right.
You previously performed as Lynn Lisa.
Right? Yes, that's right.
- And Frans Schots was your manager? How long did you work together? - From eleven to sixteen.
Then what? - Yes, it was over.
No more performances.
Showbiz, eh.
Today a star, tomorrow forgotten.
Was Frans always there, during your rehearsals and performances? He was manager of course.
My mother's health was failing, So she couldn't always be there and he took care of me.
He protected me against evil influences.
You see a lot going on behind the stage: Alcohol, drugs Did you do things other than performances for Frans Schots? Such as? Posing.
- Yes, of course I had to pose for photo shoots or the press.
Did Frans Schots ever ask you to do something else, something you really didn't want to do? - No.
Pose nude? - No.
Perform sexual acts? - No, I say.
What are you thinking? Someone else? From his entourage? - But no.
Why are you asking that? - Since we don't know the answer.
Frans never touched me.
I've never been abused.
What? Do I look like that? Look That was it then? Because I have work to do.
What does concern us, but I'd like to reserve for tomorrow if possible.
Yes, that's good.
Yes.
- Do you believe her? I don't know.
You? Say, did you mean that? Want to go to the sauna? Why not? Healthy mind in a healthy body, that's important in this profession? In our profession a healthy mind is a disability.
According to behavioural psychologist she has the level of an eight year old.
What did the local police do with the collage? Both mother and daughter were interviewed.
Cindy says she saw a naked man in the bathroom of the parental home, the former friend of her mother.
The mother confirms the statement.
Filed without follow up.
Was a medical examination undertaken? No signs of sexual abuse.
The hymen is intact.
Yes, we close the file, I'm afraid.
Mark, that child is thirteen years old.
In the video she blows a guy and someone recorded it.
I want a search warrant for that manager.
After that failed arrest at the market place, the prosecutor won't jump into action.
Damn.
Thousands of children are abused every day, and finally, we can identify one and you want to pull back.
Let the prosecutor see this.
Hopefully he has a daughter.
Dad? - Hannah, don't.
Don't.
Showtime.
I am the person who should scare you.
However I called.
Twice.
I was upstairs getting ready.
I don't always hear it.
Come on, go on.
Help with my tie a minute.
Is there something? Usually you call first before you come? We need to talk.
I have a business dinner now with colleagues from the office.
Maybe Why did you stop the investigation into the robbery? Are you starting over again? - I don't understand.
How could you do that? - Because I'd had enough.
Statements, interviews, line-ups.
I couldn't stand it anymore.
Hannah, wait.
What happened with mom, that is That That is irreparable.
But I have to go further.
Don't you understand that? You don't want the perpetrators be punished, right? I've said a hundred times: Sometimes it's better to accept the loss and let things rest.
Bullshit.
I lost my mother.
Yes? I think I've swallowed enough loss.
And I will keep searching until I know who did it and why.
From whom do you learn that I stopped it? Jos Vermaercke, does that mean something to you? Not directly.
However he led the investigation.
But yes, you've forgotten him.
Just like mom.
- You take that back.
Okay, at 05:00.
We'll be there.
Good morning.
House search.
Excuse me.
- It's nothing.
The cops are doing a house search, by mistake.
It's a mistake, but go back upstairs.
Go upstairs.
I haven't done anything wrong yet? - Then we won't find anything.
Where is your computer? - In my office.
Yes, where is that? You won't find anything there.
Is that the only computer in the house? - My daughter is traveling.
She has her laptop.
Luckily she is off to Rome.
What would the girl think of her dad? It's all the same, huh? It's all the same.
CDs, DVDs.
Everything packed up? - Sure.
That's all my business.
Soon I'll be bankrupt.
After our investigation you'll get everything back.
- Take my stock, fuck up my reputation.
And what did you think? Nothing.
Still nothing.
First we'll examine all your material.
Listen to someone who knows his profession.
You'll ruin Cindy's career and mine.
Sylvie watches me like a crook.
Because of your false accusations she doesn't let Cindy perform any longer.
She doesn't dare say, but she thinks it's me on that video.
And? Is that so? - What? How dare you.
I'll go further with this, though.
I won't let it stop here.
You know where to find me, huh.
- Yes.
I know where to find you.
His car and mobile home all checked? Basement, attic? Shed? Henhouse? Nothing that looks like the location on the movie.
Hannah.
These DVDs are all performances by Schots' artists.
Should we look at them all? - Yes, Bob.
A pedophile's porn collection is sacred to him and He always has a backup.
- You look at them, huh, Kevin.
Then you can sing along.
- Say.
I have a good one.
Schots hard disk is completely erased.
Crashed? - No, reformatted.
And listen carefully.
This morning at 04:58.
Then we were already there - Come on come on.
How can that be? How did you find his computer? - Just on his desk.
He wasn't there.
He wasn't there, I say.
Step by step.
What happened? - Schots opened the door, turned on the light - I connected to computer.
As I have explained to you? - Yes.
Damn.
I got to go to work.
- It will not last long.
I got to get my bus.
The jobs aren't up for grabs.
I'll take you to do your work.
I want to show you something there.
Not that collage again? I have already explained to the police.
Several months ago.
- What does she mean here by 'daddy'? What do you think? The teacher gives a task: Make a collage about your parents.
She has no father, she just invented one.
Is it true she saw a naked man here? Yes, I had a friend who stayed overnight.
And he ran around nude? - We aren't ashamed of our bodies.
Look, maybe Cindy just wanted her classmates to believe she had a daddy.
Write the names and addresses on her friend or friends you had in the period when she made the collage.
Frans said you thought he was on that video with Cindy .
Yes, no.
I didn't say, but But you don't let her perform any longer? Frans was the only adult male Cindy came into contact with.
They saw each other a few times a week and Yes, I thought he was really the best for her and he was good for her career, but I really just don't know anymore.
I just don't know.
Hannah? I'm going to Frans Scots' again.
Why? - Remember those light switches? Look.
I just worked it out.
In the right button is an external power supply with an external pre-programmed processor.
So if Schots pushes the right button, his computer is automatically reformatted.
Therefore there was no illegal material.
- So we can't prove anything.
Now the press have got wind of this.
Now I have to give them an answer.
Who's behind it? - Schots, huh.
Frans Scots.
Now this man gets a forum in the papers to express his displeasure.
And according to him our investigation is based on gossip by jealous competitors in showbiz.
who envy his and Cindy's happiness.
I haven't yet spoken to any of his colleagues so he is in a panic.
What about the conversation about the collage? Any results? Sylvie's ex-boyfriends were questioned.
- And would she allow Frans to abuse Cindy? - No, because she wants to see her really well off.
And besides, she also suspects Frans.
- Good.
Where does that leave us? - Frans is hiding something, he erased his hard disk, but we can't pick him up because we have no evidence.
- A tap on his phone.
Yes.
And surveillance.
The sooner, the better.
None of Sylvie's exes were ever convicted of a sex crime.
And I called Romain Depreter.
The ex who slept over at the time of the collage and he says Cindy saw him naked once by accident in the bathroom.
He had an erection.
The guy was embarrassed about it, So, come.
This is really nothing.
I checked Schots' accounts.
'Bookkeeping' is important.
That man officially earns virtually nothing.
All from black.
- CDs and DVDs? All clean.
Amateurish.
and interrogate him until he confesses.
- No.
No, we haven't anything to go on.
We must proceed with caution.
You and Charles shadow him.
By tomorrow we'll have a tap on his mobile phone.
Take just one wrong step, then we have him.
- Okay.
Here.
Evelyn Landers called Schots.
Evelyntje.
It's been a long time.
- Are you at it again, scumbag? What is it? - Cindy Star.
You haven't done anything to her.
- I haven't done anything? And the filth you stuck me in? I had nothing to do with that? - Come on, we had a deal.
500 euros per month.
Do you think I'd remain silent for such a pittance? If I go to the papers, I'll get much more.
If you do, I'll say what I know.
You extorted money from me for years.
That's what you'll read in the papers.
Yes, Hannah? Okay.
Pick him up.
Oh.
What Evelyn says is nothing.
She's frustrated.
She's a has-been.
As long as she performed, as manager I was her hero, her dad, but when she had no more fans, she spit me out.
Then the gossip.
Then is that all the manager's fault.
I often tell them: Your showbiz career is so over.
But they won't listen.
I haven't done anything? And the filth you did to me? I also had nothing to do with it? What was Evelyn talking about? Overdue copyrights.
- Arrears of copyright? When Evelyn came to me under contract, she was 11, she took away all her rights.
CDs, DVDs, portrait right.
Afterwards she had difficulties starting over.
500 euros per month.
Do you think I'd remain silent for such a pittance? You pay Evelyn money to remain silent.
Why should she remain silent? About backlog copyrights.
I have a deal with her, I pay her 500 euros per month for five years in order to compensate.
She still signed the contract? - Yes.
If she brings it to court, then I'd win.
For Cindy's image it's better to do so.
Does Cindy know her rights? - That's between me and Sylvie.
Then no one is involved.
Mr.
Schots.
What was on your hard disk we couldn't see? Nothing.
- Why did you delete it? I haven't erased anything.
If that disk is empty, you messed with it.
How many times did Cindy suck you? How many other children before Cindy have you already abused? 5, 10, 20? I never abused a child.
- Who filmed that filth? The name of your accomplice.
Come on.
Then I won't answer.
Either you have something against me and you can toss me in jail.
Or you've got nothing and I'll go free.
I thought so.
Two wrongful arrests.
A search à la Gestapo.
Wire tap my phone.
Defamation.
For me and Cindy.
Loss of income.
I'll lodge a complaint for defamation and libel.
You'll hear from my lawyer.
Fuck.
Evelyn.
You know the penalty for obstructing an investigation? But man.
What have I done wrong? - I know Frans-Schots filth said about you.
Now I want to hear it from you.
Overdue copyright.
- I don't believe you.
He pays you hush money.
What for? Because for years he benefited from me.
Okay.
Tell me.
For five years I gave up everything.
Everything.
Sometimes four performances on a weekend and now I haven't a cent in my account.
I couldn't continue studying.
I had to look for work to rent my house.
When I went to Frans and I demanded he reimburse me.
So it's a question of money, nothing more? Yes, what else? - To pay your sports car? Yes.
And then what? Cindy Star.
She looks a bit like Lisa Lynn of five years ago.
No? Now she's going through what you went through 5 years back.
She's being abused and she doesn't dare say anything about it her career is over.
Supposedly.
You can help her, huh? Do you still need me or can I go home? Okay? - No.
We must catch that bastard on something.
I don't know what or how, but we have his address.
- We must do it by the book.
The prosecutor is unhappy.
False arrest, failed search and failed telephone tap.
- Good.
But it looks good in the papers.
What do you mean? - That it is better that we do business Forget it.
I let that girl suffocate.
Hannah, you can't solve every case.
It doesn't go like that.
I've heard that once before.
Frans Schots is a pedophile or he organizes pedo-sex.
He films it and earns a lot from it.
We need - I have that DVD with C.
.
.
It isn't the moment, guys.
- I think it really is.
Are you coming? Guys, I've enlarged the stills from the DVD as much as possible.
The problem was we were unsure of the location.
We thought about a small space.
A garage, a shed The mobile home.
- I searched it.
Also behind the wall? Under the carpet? But is that completely gutted? - Excuse me, yes? I've magnified this piece as much as possible and I think that's a piece of Velcro.
And isn't a wall, just a dark cloth.
There were gray cloths in Frans Schots' garage.
7 movies with Cindy each time with another guy.
She masturbates them or gives them a blowjob.
What is it now? - You can call the press.
Do you have a warrant? - Yes.
How many journalists can we get together? Minimum five, maximum ten.
That will be the number of years you'll be in prison.
Come, Mr.
.
Schots.
You know what? Go walk.
- Join us this pleasure.
Damn.
Would you tell us what happened? I don't want anyone to talk about it.
Not with mom, not at school.
- And why not? Otherwise my career's over.
I'll never perform again.
Who says that? Cindy, we are here to help you.
You shouldn't be afraid.
Here you can tell everything.
Or begin with Swa Deconinck.
The man who came to take your measurements.
Swa is Frans' friend and Frans and his friends have always done the best for me.
They organized performances or found me a sponsor, or could get me on TV.
And every time Frans asked if I'd do the men a favour in return.
Let me feel them or masturbate them.
Or oral sex.
I was eleven years, I didn't know better.
I wouldn't have dared otherwise.
And when my career was over, then I realized what he really had me do.
But the shame, you just can't imagine.
I've never had the courage to talk to someone about it.
But you blackmailed him all these years for money? What else could I do? Go to the cops? Then I had nothing anymore.
Frans knows how to select his artists.
Girls without a father, from a disadvantaged family.
He gets well paid by bastards who get their kicks satisfied with a child.
Did it ever go further than that? Were there ever men who penetrated you? No.
- And Frans? Did you ever let Frans No.
He only took the money he received, that's all that interests him.
It's horrible what Frans did to my Cindy.
I don't know how I can ever make amends.
Give her time.
Let the right people help her, that's important.
I just wanted her to have a good life.
That she would be someone, someone who can put money aside.
Thank you.
Frans? Do you know what they do to pedophiles in prison? I've never touched a child.
You're worse than all those guys altogether.
You passed checkout three times.
As manager, as pimp and as porn farmer.
Think of the heavies with their pants full of enthusiasm Do you think they'll laugh about it? They have daughters too, huh.